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Social Affairs Working Group

Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Social Affairs

The Social Affairs Working Group meeting took place on 17 September 2025 (10:00-11:30 CET) online.

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Documents

Agenda

1 - HOTREC position paper on subcontracting

2 - HOTREC position on Traineeship Package

3 - HOTREC position EU Talent Pool

4 - HOTREC reply to the COM consultation on the European Pillar of Social Rights

5 - HOTREC reply to the COM consultation on Gender Equality Strategy

6 - HOTREC reply to the COM consultation on Quality Jobs Roadmap

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Main outcome of the meeting

  • Subcontracting
    • HOTREC and its members to continue disseminating HOTREC position paper
    • Relevant to mention that innovation can not be hindered. Companies cannot prevent certain activities to be subcontracted even if nowadays they are part of the core activities of the company (laundry services).
  • Traineeships Directive
    • Vote at the EP will take place on 23 September.
    • A majority of the political groups will vote in favour of the agreement.
    • HOTREC members to contact their respective MEPs from EMPL, only in case of very good relations with MEPs from EMPL. Otherwise, relevant to use contacts for the trilogue phase.

HOTREC priorities on the file for trilogues:

  • Scope:
    • Apprenticeship out of the scope
    • Traineeships part of education and training should be excluded
  • Collective agreements: to derogate from the Directive
  • Payment: allowance or compensation should be provided to trainees (this is in line with the Council Recommendation on Traineeships – 2014 /C 88/01)
    (to be seen if HOTREC can accept that payment is provided to the trainee, in case the Directive adopts the correct approach towards the scope. This would be in line with the Council general approach).
  • EU Talent Pool:
    • File might close until December 2025.
    • HOTREC and members to continue transmitting the joint position paper
  • EU consultations: HOTREC to continue disseminating its priorities towards the EU
  • Employers Research Institute: HOTREC members to provide feedback when needed (e.g. Ai @work or discussions on the Study on temperature at work)
  • Eurofound study: Enrofound hopefully to take HOTREC’s comments into account
  • Collective agreements: HOTREC members shared information about the latest information agreements
  • AI@work: HOTREC to monitor

  • Dates of next meetings:
    • 6 November 2025 – Social Affairs WG
    • 14 November 2025 - SSD