SGI Europe addresses the Informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers of the Polish Presidency

On Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 April 2025, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU organised the Informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers, gathering EPSCO Ministers, European Commission and social partners. Amongst others, the meeting addressed key issues such as digital changes in the world of work, equality in the labour market with a focus on supporting care responsibilities and active integration policy of EU countries.

During the different sessions organised, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, said:

On digitalisation and AI in the world of work: "Services of general interest are already adapting to algorithmic systems. These technologies bring opportunities but also risks related to transparency, skills, and workplace change. Social dialogue must be at the centre to anticipate and shape the transition. As we prepare our new EU Social Partners Work Programme, AI in the workplace will be among our priority topics, with views of finding practical, balanced solutions.”

On integration policies: “SGI Europe is leading the project Labour-INT3 with the other EU cross-sectoral social partners, based on practices in Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, and Italy, which focus on building concrete and practical pathways for the integration of third-country nationals into the labour market. In each country, we support local partnerships that implement job matching, mentoring, language training, and workplace-based upskilling.”

On equality in the labour market: “Inequalities and the unequal repartition of the care burden cannot be addressed without ensuring access to adequate, affordable, and high-quality care infrastructure. In the current context of shrinking public budgets and shifting priorities, it is essential that we safeguard care services as a cornerstone of gender equality in the labour market.”