They consider essential for the new policy to ensure the future competitiveness of the sector

Trade Union representatives (European workers EMCEF-Federation of chemical, energy and mining) and business (ECEG-group European employers of chemical industry) of the European chemical industry, together with the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) signed, last November, an agreement of position joint on the new policy of chemicals (REACH).

The common position reached, after making a report card on the contribution of the European chemical industry (sector of higher value added in Europe generated 1.7 million direct jobs and products essential to the continuous improvement of the quality of life)It is considered essential that the new chemicals policy jointly consider the three pillars of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental), and to ensure the future competitiveness of a sector representing 30 per cent of world chemical production in Europe, and that only in Spain, contributes to the economy 10 per cent of the gross Industrial product and more than 500,000 jobs direct, indirect and induced.

The joint paper analyses some aspects of special significance for the European chemical industry, such as the commitment contained in the Lisbon Summit in relation to the competitiveness and employment; research and innovation as drivers of the investment, and of sustainable development, articulating the economic, social and environmental.

The agreement highlights certain specific requirements of the signatory organizations:

• Completion of an extensive assessment of impact on the legislation.
• Prioritization of risk-based testing.
• Elimination of bureaucratic burdens and unfair competition practices.
• The role of the future European Agency in the implementation of the legislation.
• Avoid distortions that affect competitiveness between community members.
• Member, stimulate a specific consideration for SMEs (representing 90 per cent of the industrial fabric of the chemical sector) and the new States by their difficulties to undertake the additional administrative requirements.

One of the most relevant aspects of the agreement is the inclusion of specific commitments, notably the aim of increasing the information and training of workers in the chemical industry and sectors users about the safe use of chemicals.

In addition to REACH, the convening organizations stressed that the future development of the programme of the chemical industry for the continuous improvement of safety, health and the environment will have the active participation of workers.

After the public recognition which the UN gave commitment of progress at the last Summit in Johannesburg by its contribution to sustainable development and the results achieved in the constant reduction of discharges and emissions, unions and employers agreed this cooperation as the engine of future developments.

On the other hand, participants at the European Conference on Social dialogue, discussed the structure and current developments in the chemical companies with the aim of establishing lines of action to attract skilled industry and develop skills appropriate to the new models of work organisation, at the time that promotes vocational training as a permanent objective to workers in the sector as a whole.

Finally, trade union representatives and business Spanish presented the model of industrial relations in the chemical sector Spanish, whose axes are the sectoral general Convention, which soon will begin negotiations for its renewal, and the Tripartite Industrial Observatory (Feique)(, FITEQA-CCOO and FIA-UGT), with the aim of improving competitiveness and employment in the sector.