Social dialogue is the dialogue between the social partners, i.e. the employers and the employees, on the arrangement and development of work-related issues. This dialogue was initiated at the EU level in 1985; it is recognised in Title X (Art 151-161) of the Treaties.
In 1998, the Insurance Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (ISDC) was set up alongside 25 other sectoral committees, with Insurance Europe (then CEA), (then) ACME, and BIPAR, the European Federation of Insurance Intermediaries, as organisations representing employers, and UNI Europa Finance representing the industry’s employees. With the transfer of activities from ACME to AMICE at the beginning of 2008, AMICE has taken over the role of representing its members as employers.
Having initiated the process, the Commission withdrew from further involvement in the contents of the work and the process has become purely bilateral between employers and employees. The Commission, however, basically funds the work of the committees. The ISSDC has adopted its own rules of procedure and establishes a yearly work programme. Work is done in several working group meetings throughout the year and at least one plenary to ratify working results.
In 2011, the ISDC received a grant from the European Commission within the project “Addressing The Demographic Challenge In The European Insurance Sector - A Collection And Dissemination Of Good Practices” to collect and disseminate good practices in the field of HR management. The grant includes the publication of a booklet on the demographic challenge, the organisation of a conference in Brussels in June 2012 and a follow up seminar in Prague in September 2012 as well as a final report concluding the project.
The booklet, published in May 2012, features a selection of ‘good practices’ illustrating three key aspects from the 2010 Joint Statement. The good practices presented could serve as guidance for companies wishing to address the issues identified by the social partners, i.e. qualifications and life-long learning, work life balance and health and safety measures, thus making the booklet a starting point for increasing good practice within the insurance sector. Copies of the booklet (in 8 EU languages) are available at the Secretariat.
AMICE is committed to participating in the project as partner on the basis of the work programme.
AMICE participates in the meetings of the working group at the Secretariat level and endeavours to provide speakers from its membership when invited to contribute in this form at working group meetings and plenaries. The Secretariat reports to AMICE’s Legal Affairs task force on its activities in this area.