Big employment debate at the heart of Brussels

Employment Week 2007, the annual event which attracts all the key EU stakeholders in the employment debate, is pleased to announce a range of prestigious speakers at this yearís conference. Some of Europeís biggest employers will be taking centre stage in Brussels on 5-6 June 2007.

Senior directors from organisations such as McDonalds Europe, Manpower, Air France-KLM, Toyota, Volvo, Nestl and Dow Chemical will discuss the developments and challenges facing European employers and workforces now and in the future. As well as strong representation from the commercial sector, key governmental institutions such as the European Commission and the European Parliament will be taking part in the conference. There will also be a significant presence of social partners, academic institutions and NGOs.

David Arkless, Executive Board Member at Manpower Inc., will provide in-depth findings and forecasts on the labour market prospects for Europe in the opening plenary session. Also on the first day, Bellinda Paes, European Social Affairs Specialist at Toyota Motor Europe will discuss the theme of diversity during an interactive panel session featuring representation from the corporate and public sector. This debate will ask if diversity means opportunities for all or just for a few? It will also question whether companies implement diversity policies because they have to or because they find that it works.

Quality of jobs will also be an important topic. Panelists from McDonalds Europe, The TUC (The Trade Union Congress UK), The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will analyse the quality of jobs available across Europe and discuss the changing health and safety concerns in the workplace. Emmanuel Jahan, Air Franceís Employment and Social Affairs Representative in Brussels will examine the role of flexicurity as a socio-economic model for the future. He will detail how it could work in practice and will address whether flexicurity really does balance the interests of employers and employees.

Other hot topics on the conference agenda include: job creation across Europe; employment challenges for a larger Europe; talent management in the knowledge economy; labour market mobility; regional and local restructuring; and work-life balance in practice, to name a few.

Stephanie Pothier, Employment Week 2007 Event Manager, said: We look forward to the conference which is taking place in less than two months time. The stimulating programme will provide an interesting focus on the priorities facing European governments, employers and workers. Weíre delighted to have such prestigious speakers on board and weíre pleased to continue to build on our successful event which has now been running for 14 years. The adjoining exhibition will provide an additional practical dimension where attendees can network and see some of the real-life schemes helping people and regions to sustain and improve employment prospects for all.