Opinion 09/2015 on the draft bill regulating procurement procedures in the water, energy, transport and postal sectors
The Council considers that, once the criteria determining the Laws subjective scope have been established, the list of companies included in the text is wholly unnecessary and could with time become incomplete or erroneous, and so should be removed.
Opinion 08/2015 on the draft bill on public sector contracts
The Council notes the technical improvements in the draft bill and acknowledges its greater clarity, helping to prevent legislative confusion and guarantee legal certainly. But in the Councils view, given the risk of corruption in public procurement, the draft bill does not address the problem in sufficient depth, for this is an opportunity to expressly regulate the steps to be taken by contracting authorities. The guarantees concerning public employees designated to take part in contracting authorities should be strengthened, so as to enable them to elude pressure or instructions from politicians. The Council disagrees with the draft bills approach for ensuring improved social, employment and environmental conditions, which should be guaranteed in all phases of public procurement.
Social status of artists Follow-up to opinions Nos. 1,744, 1,810 and 1,931 Draft royal decree and draft ministerial decree Functioning of the Artists Commission and model for the artist card and visa Opinion No. 1,946
Own-initiative opinion on the consequences of the new pricing policy projects of the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB/NMBS) Opinion No. 1,942 (Joint opinion of the National Labour Council and the Central Economic Council)
Preliminary draft law modifying the law of 12 April 1965 on the protection of workers remuneration Modification of the wage assignment procedure Opinion No. 1,940
Opinion 06/2015 on the draft bill on worker-owned companies and companies with worker participation
The Council welcomes the draft bill overall as it updates, modernises and improves the current legal framework, and in so far as many of the novelties or changes included in the draft may help rationalise and improve the administration and management of these companies. The Council expresses concern, however, that certain changes, such as those linked to the raising of the maximum of paid employment permitted in such companies, involve a risk of disfiguring essential characteristics of worker-owned companies and the trade-offs on which they are founded.In the Councils view the new company type provided in the draft bill (companies with worker participation) is described in highly generic terms with a lack of precision, missing the opportunity to provide more substantial regulations and to address the overall question of worker participation in companies.
Opinion 07/2015 on draft bill amending and updating provisions concerning self-employment and adopting measures to encourage and promote self-employment and the social economy
Attached is a dissenting opinion by 17 members of the Councils third group, who consider that the critical assessment of the bills formula for replacing economically dependent self-employed workers could be accompanied by some pointers to alternative formulas. The opinion considers that the possibility for economically dependent self-employed workers to hire a temporary employee to replace them so as to provide services to their client distorts the nature of such workers.The Council also notes the limited effectiveness of employment incentives as measures for generating employment when such incentives are universalised. The opinion moreover opposes the generalisation of the right to receive both unemployment benefit and income from self-employed economic activity, currently limited to those aged under 30.
Opinion 05/2015 on the draft bill on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes
Including a dissenting opinion submitted by 12 members of the Councils third group.The Councils plenary session adopts an opinion on the transposition of Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013The frequent disputes between consumers and traders and the tiny amounts involved in many transactions mean that there is a need for out-of-court dispute settlement systems.The Council considers that the text under consideration raises doubts as to how financial services fit into the scope of the draft bill.The opinion says the procedure should as a matter of priority be free of charge and that the symbolic nature of the 30 euros specified by the draft bill as a maximum fee is questionable.
Irelands Rental Sector: Pathways to Secure Occupancy and Affordable Supply (141)
Irelands rental sector is under enormous pressure. The impact is being felt by individuals and families renting and it is now becoming a threat to Irelands competitiveness and job creation. The sector needs a new vision and strategy if it is to become an attractive long-term housing choice.
Collective agreement No. 118 of 27 April 2015 determining, for 2015 and 2016, the interprofessional framework for lowering to 55 years the age limit concerning the access to the right to benefits for an end-of-career job, for workers with a long career...
Collective agreement No. 118 of 27 April 2015 determining, for 2015 and 2016, the interprofessional framework for lowering to 55 years the age limit concerning the access to the right to benefits for an end-of-career job, for workers with a long career, performing heavy work or in a company in difficulty or undergoing restructuring, and collective agreement No. 103 bis of 27 April 2015 adapting collective agreement No. 103 of 27 June 2012 establishing a system for time credit, career reduction and end-of-career jobs Opinion No. 1,938
