The Employment,Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. Employment and Social affairs will be discussed on 9 June under the presidency of Ms Marjeta Cotman, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The European Commission will be represented by Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Two longstanding directives – Working Time and Temporary Agency Workers – are on the agenda for political agreement by Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs. The health points will be taken on 10 June with the Council being chaired by Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič, Slovenian Minister for Health. The Commission will be represented by Commissioner Vassiliou.

The main points on the Employment agenda on Monday 9th June are:

Working Time Directive
The Slovenian Presidency has put forward a new compromise text in order to reach political agreement to amend the existing directive on Working Time (2003/88/EC). The directive has been on ice since November 2006 and many Member States are in breach of the legislation as currently interpreted by the European Court of Justice (Simap/Jaeger ruling). According to these rulings, on-call time must be counted as working time. If Member States do not come to an agreement it is the duty of the Commission to open infringement procedures.

Directive on Working Conditions for Temporary Agency Workers
8 million workers in the EU are temporary agency workers and numbers are increasing. In March 2002 the European Commission adopted a proposal to create a level playing field for temporary agency workers across the EU. The proposal seeks to combine business flexibility and workers' mobility, on the one hand, and more security for workers without thwarting the development of temporary agency work, on the other hand.

Council to adopt several sets of conclusions

• Commission Recommendation on enhanced administrative cooperation in the context of the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services.
• A Jobs and Skills Initiative: Skills, jobs and youth - Anticipating and matching labour market needs, with special emphasis on youth.
• In the framework of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for action.
• Indicators in respect of the Girl Child.
• Women in political decision-making.
• Elimination of gender stereotypes in society.

The main points on the Health agenda on Tuesday 10th June are:

• Reducing the burden of cancer.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Implementation of the EU Health Strategy.
• Information to patients on medicinal products.
• Novel foods.