POLITICAL REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

• The Political Reference Framework 2000-2006 for the development of Human Resources in Spain (PRF) is the national strategic approach applicable to all measures related to employment and the labour market.
  

• Specialised units of the General Central Administration in matters related to employment, social affairs and equal opportunities:

  • 1.Specialised units of the General Central Administration in matters related to employment, social affairs and equal opportunities

  • 2.The work of independent experts who analysed:

    • The results of the previous programme period (1994-1999);

    • The coherence of the strategies proposed for the new period in relation to the present situation and prospects of the labour market.
      

    • The situation in respect of equal opportunities for men and women in Spain

  • 3.The regional strategies prepared by the Autonomous Regions
    

  • 4.The contribution of the most representative social agents at regular partnership meetings with the AUESF and other national and regional institutions

  
  

• The PRF was approved by the Autonomous Regions at the Sectoral Conference for Social Affairs, submitted to the Economic and Social Committee for consultation, and officially presented to the European Commission together with the Plan for Objective 3 following approval by the Government Delegate Commission for Economic Affairs in October 1999.

• The definition of the three basic strategies is based on the major weaknesses and potential of our labour market:
  
  

  • 1.To stimulate measures for the creation of jobs, and thus help reduce the levels of unemployment and increase the rate of employment

  • 2.To combat all forms of discrimination affecting access to the labour market, for the purpose of reducing actual disequilibriums in the workforce.
    

  • 3.To stimulate the valuation of human resources by providing appropriate qualification and improving adaptability to the demands of the job market.

  
  
• These three strategies are implemented by means of three basic principles of action:
  
  

  • 1.Greater focus on active job market policies

  • 2.Permanent support of social and institutional dialogue

  • 3.Firm involvement in the European employment strategy

  
  
• With respect to the programme of actions co-financed by the ESF, the Plan for Objective 3 incorporates these strategies for the five priority areas defined by the European Parliament and Council ESF Regulations:
  
  
  • To promote active labour market policies to combat unemployment, particularly of a long-term nature and amongst young people. .
  • To combat discrimination in access to the labour market of persons at risk of being excluded.
    
  • To improve vocational training.
  • To stimulate productive activity and worker adaptability, as well as scientific and technical research
  • To improve the access and participation of women in the labour market, particularly with respect to their professional careers and reinforcement of their capacity as entrepreneurs
    
    
  
  
• In order to establish the outline of the ESF programme in Spain the following elements have to be considered
  
  
  • a)Each one of the five ESF priority areas
  • b)The four pillars and directives of the European Employment Strategy and its implementation in Spain through the National Action Employment Plan, to ensure coherence of all domestic actions in the field of human resources
    
    
• To that end, the ESF programme is structured around eight priority, which in turn take account of measures encompassing specific actions in terms of the recipient population and their subject matter:
  
  
  
  
  • Priority 1: Vocaitonal integration and reintegration of the unemployed
  • Priority 2: Strengthening of business capacity .
    
  • Priority 3: Strengthening of job stability and adaptability.
  • Priority 4: Strengthening of technical and vocational education.
  • Priority 5: Strengthening of human potential in research, science and technology.
  • Priority 6: Participation of women in the labour market .
  • Priority 7: Integration in the labour market of persons with special difficulties .
  • Priority 8: Promotion and support of initiatives for local development.