On Monday 7 March, Luxembourg's Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Economy, Nicolas Schmit, and the Minister of Social Securty, Romain Schneider, both participated in the EPSCO Council meeting in Brussels.

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council addressed the implementation of the country-specific recommendations on aspects related to employment and social policy during 2016.

"The digital transformation is a major challenge for job markets in Europe. We will have to foster investment in skills for this transformation to be inclusive," said Nicolas Schmit after exchanging views with other Ministers on the new skill strategy that the European Commission is preparing for the end of the first half of 2016.
The Commission also informed the Council on the labour mobility package announced in its 2016 work programme.

During a working lunch the ministers had the opportunity to address the issue of older workers and job seekers. During these exchanges, Minister Schmit outlined the various measures initiated and implemented by the government to help return the older job seekers to work and for the continued employment of older workers.

In the wake of the Council ,Minister Schmit, in his position as co-chair of EPSCO, along with the Lithuanian Minister of Finance, Rimantas Šadžiusjoin, met with the Ministers of Labour, Employment and Finance from other EU Member States as well as socialists and social democrats to discuss the strengthening of the social dimension of the European economic and monetary union.

Despite the day-long debate the Council was unable to reach an agreement on conclusions on gender equality and on LGBTI equality; they did however agree to endorse key messages on the way forward for the youth guarantee post-2016.

“27 countries have agreed today to take measures to protect LGBTI people. The Netherlands think it is very important to take measures to help the LGBTI people,” said Lodewijk Asscher, The Netherlands' vice Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Employment.

Photo by: MTRAV