Information and training measures for workers' organisations

Information and training measures for workers' organisations

TOPIC ID: SOCPL-2024-INFO-WK

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme: Social Prerogative and Specific Competencies Lines (SOCPL)

Call: Information and training measures for workers' organisations (SOCPL-2024-INFO-WK)

Type of action: SOCPL-PJG SOCPL Project Grants

Type of MGA: SOCPL Action Grant Budget-Based [SOCPL-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 17 January 2024

Deadline dates: 16 April 2024 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

This call aims at strengthening the capacity of workers' organisations to address, at EU/transnational level, challenges related to changes in employment and work and social dialogue.

Definitions used in the context of this call:

a) “Social partner organisation” is either an organisation representing workers – often also referred to as "trade union" – or an organisation representing employers. They engage in some form of "social dialogue", discussing and often negotiating such issues as wages, working conditions, training, etc.

b) European-level social partner organisations (or “European-level social partners”): either organisations that are consulted in accordance with Article 154 TFEU or other European social partner organisations fulfilling the definition of social partner organisations representing workers (also referred to as trade union) or employers at regional, national or European level that are engaged in "social dialogue" i.e. the discussion and negotiation of wages, working conditions, training, etc. that are not included in this list, but which: (1) demonstrate that they represent several national social partners (fulfilling as well the definition above); (2) have a mandate of these organisations to engage in social dialogue at European level on their behalf; and (3) are involved in the preparation and/or functioning of European social dialogue.

Actions that address the following themes will be particularly welcome:

• actions supporting the implementation, at the EU or national level, of autonomous social partner agreements concluded at EU level;
• actions related to the implementation of the work programmes of the existing European Social Dialogue Committees;

Other relevant themes for this call are:

• measures which contribute to addressing the employment, social and economic challenges as identified in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
• modernisation of the labour market, job creation and youth employment, employment in SMEs;
• new forms of work, including platform work;
• quality of work, including fair working-conditions, anticipation, preparation and management of change and restructuring;
• digitalisation of the economy and society (including artifical intelligence);
• transition to a climate-neutral economy;
• skills development including re- and upskilling; skills intelligence;
• intra-EU labour mobility, migration; youth employment, health and safety at work;
• modernisation of social protection systems, including access to social protection for those in non-standard forms of employment;
• reconciliation of work and family life, gender equality, action in the field of anti-discrimination, healthier and longer working lives, active inclusion and decent work;
• tackling the employment, social and economic consequences emerging inequality issues in uncertain times.

Actions are also expected to contribute to the priorities and activities of European social dialogue, including those laid down in the work programmes of the EU cross-industry and sectoral social dialogue committees, as well as those that form part of the June 2016 Statement of the Presidency of the Council, the European Commission and the European social partners on "a new start for social dialogue". In that context, particular emphasis is put on strengthening collective bargaining, including on minimum wage, and the involvement of social partners in the European Semester and enhancing their contribution to EU policy making.

Proposals are expected to contribute to strengthening the capacity of workers’ organisations to address, at EU/transnational level, challenges related to changes in employment and work and social dialogue. They should further contribute to the promotion of social dialogue at cross-industry and sectoral level in accordance with Article 154 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and to the development of European social dialogue in its different dimensions of information exchange, consultation, negotiation and joint action.

Expected results consist in improved expertise for workers' representatives for participation in European social dialogue, better understanding of issues discussed in European social dialogue, sharing of ideas/experience on European social dialogue as well as improving the capacity of workers' organisations.

1. Eligible countries:as described in the Call document.

EU Member States and in some cases from the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, in accordance with the EEA Agreement.

2. Eligibility and admissibility conditions: as described in the Call document.

Applications must be submitted before the call deadline and electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Applications (including annexes and supporting documents) must be submitted using the forms provided inside the Submission System.

Applications must be complete and contain:

-Application Form (Part A)

-Application Form (Part B)

-Annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded as PDF files).

At proposal submission, the lead applicant will have to confirm that it has the mandate to act for all applicants; that the information in the application is correct and complete and that the participants comply with the conditions for receiving EU funding (especially eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, etc). Before signing the grant, each beneficiaries and affiliated entities will have to confirm this again by signing a declaration of honour (DoH).

Applications must be readable, accessible and printable, not exceeding [70] pages.

3. Evaluation

The award criteria for this call are detailed in pages 14-15 of the call document

4. Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement: as described in the Call document.

5. Proposal templates, guidance and model grant agreements (MGA):

Call document:https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/socpl/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_socpl-2024-info-wk_en.pdf

Annex to the call document: Letter of commitment https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=27244&langId=en

Standard proposal template:https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/temp-form/af/af_esf-socpl_en.pdf

Mono/Multi-beneficiary Model Grant Agreement:

Core :https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/general-mga_esf-socpl_en.pdf

Annex 1 to Grant Agreement:https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/temp-form/gap/doa_esf-socpl_en.docx

Annotated Grant Agreement: Aga_en.pdf (europa.eu).Please be aware that the Manual is being slightly developed following the new Programmes using the Portal. That is why it is marked “draft”.

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Get support

-Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: FAQ on submission of proposals

-IT Helpdesk: Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

-Online Manual: The Online Manual is Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and submission to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes. (roles & access rights, proposal submission and evaluation, grant management, amendments, etc.). Each explanation leads to the corresponding “IT How to” page (see here after).

-IT How to - IT How To - Funding Tenders Opportunities (europa.eu): Detailed instructions on how to apply for EU funding, from how to register your organisation,how to manage the roles and access rights to your organisations, proposals andto how to submit your proposal. It gives also detailedinstructions on and on how to manage your grant if you are selected.

-Support overview (europa.eu):Page gathering all support tools (overview, guidance and manuals, FAQ's, helpdesk, support videos)

For help related to this call, if you did not find an answer in the various support means, please contact: EMPL-VP-INFO-TRAINING@ec.europa.eu