Eurofedop Seminars

The fight against discrimination
11.04.2005 Luxembourg (Jean Monnet Centre)

Ms Renata Polverini, Italy, member of the European Economic and Social Committee, member of the Executive Committee of Eurofedop, opened this session, attended by many. The Luxemburg presidency of the Council of the European Union 2005 was represented by Ms Marie-Josée Jacobs, Minister of Equal Opportunities. She spoke about the “Conference of Ministers responsible for equal opportunities between women and men of 4 February 2005” and the “Declaration of Ministers” as well as the results and follow-up given during the Luxemburg presidency.

Heidi Stieglitz, Training Director, gave an introduction on “Gender”. She pleaded for abandoning the vision on women and men as two separate identities. Male or female values or qualities can be found both with men and women. She helped the participants form a “Gender conscience” and called on them to fight against “Gender inequality”. Whether equal treatment and appreciation may one day be achieved, is the big question. In any case, the meeting participants concluded that this should be the final aim.

“Wage disparities between women and men” was the subject of the speech of Ms Ivette Cagliari, Member of the Commission for Equal Opportunities between Men and Women to the Ministry of Equal Opportunities and responsible for the UGL Equal Opportunities Office. Her rich experience in practical situations was especially noticed.

The theme of “Power” was presented through the “Power Indicator”. This power indicator was described as an instrument to be used in practical situations. It deals with the various steps typical of power abuse and gives short and clear tips to fight it. It is an instrument for simple use at national sessions.

Finally, Ms Isabella Rauti, Member of the National Council on Equality to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies in Italy, held a speech as expert on the theme of “Work-time and family-time conciliation”. The relation between the working life and family life is a global problem with offshoots in the informal economy. There is a chance for the European Union to play a leading role here. Moreover, there is a need for a pact against exclusion.

In his closing speech, Bert Van Caelenberg, Secretary General of Eurofedop, thanked the speakers and participants and also referred to the matter still being dealt with at the European Parliament.

For more information on gender issues, he mentioned the following documents :

2004/0084(COD) Draft opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation.

COM(2005) 44 final Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on equality between women and men, 2005.

ACFTU – ASIAFEDOP (BATU) Seminar on Leadership in the Public Sector
Beijing (China), 10–14 March 2005

From 10 to 14 March, ASIAFEDOP and the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), in cooperation with INFEDOP, organised a seminar on leadership in the public sector in Beijing, China. Present at the seminar were ASIAFEDOP delegates from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Pakistan, two delegates from INFEDOP and delegates from the ACFTU (China), as well as a professor and an associate professor from the China Institute of Industrial Relations, Beijing.

The five-day seminar included four successful training days in which different aspects of leadership in general and its use in the public sector in particular were discussed, and an interesting day trip to Tianjin, one of the biggest industrial and port cities in China. On the second day of the seminar Martijn Hordijk, of INFEDOP, held a presentation on the leadership style of Konrad Adenauer. As important characteristics of Adenauer’s leadership style, he mentioned his ability to combine ideals with pragmatism, and his reliable image.

On day four, Bert van Caelenberg, secretary general of INFEDOP and EUROFEDOP, held a presentation at the request of the Chinese delegation on the activities and structure of EUROFEDOP, the European organisation of INFEDOP. His presentation provided the Asian delegates with some more insight in the working of European social dialogue and the way a European trade union, such as EUROFEDOP works.

The set up of the seminar, combining presentations with work-shops, provided both a good exchange of information, as well as fruitful interaction between the participants from different Asian and European countries.