EZA (European Centre for Workers' Questions)
Mission Statement
The European Centre for Workers’ Questions is a non-profit organization set up in 1985. Member organisations of EZA are education institutes of trade unions, workers’ organisations as well as research institutes. As of July 2023, EZA has 68 member organisations in 28 European countries, i.e. in the European Union as well as in candidate countries. The work of EZA is based on socio-ethical principles as laid down in the Christian social doctrine: Human dignity – concept of the inalienable dignity and freedom of every human being; human beings are the focus of societal and thus economic activity; Solidarity – social principle of compassionate cohesion and responsibility for the common good, social justice; Subsidiarity – social principle of the responsibility and self-help of smaller societal units; the superordinate unit renders assistance with self-help; Sustainability – integral, sustainable development and activity. According to its statutes, the purpose of EZA is to promote social, economic and cultural development on the basis of Christian social values. Special emphasis is to be put on the development of social dialogue and the tackling of social issues at European level with regard to workers and disadvantaged population groups. EZA aims to contribute to the achievement of this objective and a social Europe via capacity building for workers' organisations at European level. The aim of the educational activities is to: analyse facts and circumstances and impart knowledge in view of new socio-economic developments, especially in the labour market; exchange information and experiences / good practices on a European level – mutual learning; formulate action strategies for social partners / workers’ organisations and for national and European policy-makers / institutions; create networks among workers’ organisations to reinforce transnational co-operation and the use of synergy effects; contribute to the European identity and unity
Our campaign pledge
We promise to inform our network partners about our involvement in the campaign and we will encourage them to take up the campaign’s content and to cooperate with the national focal points of EU-OSHA. Furthermore, we intend to inform about the campaign in particular during our annual kick-off conference on 23rd/24th November 2023 in Sofia / Bulgaria. During this conference about 100 representatives of various workers’ organisations from many European countries will gather.
Sigrid SCHRAML
Secretary General
The European Commission has declared 2023 the European Year of Skills. This choice is prompted by the ongoing digital and climate changes and the importance of reskilling and upskilling to adapt professionally to these transformations. Unions and workers’ organisations have been pointing out for a long time that investing in training and fostering the use of skills is fundamental for a sustained business performance. We at EZA very much welcome the new EU-OSHA campaign 2023-25 which sheds light on an issue so far often neglected, namely the risks connected with new digital technologies in terms of OSH. EZA embraces the opportunities of digital technological change. However, workers must have a say in the further development and use of new digital technologies as these change their daily work dramatically and not always to the better.