DIALOGUE4INCLUSION – Empowering Inclusive Commerce through Social Dialogue

forthcoming

The European commerce sector is a major source of employment and economic growth, but many people—such as refugees and immigrants, younger and older workers, and inactive populations—continue to face barriers to joining the workforce. This project promotes social inclusion in the sector by strengthening cooperation between employers and trade unions through structured social dialogue. The initiative focuses on these three key groups to ensure targeted, effective action. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges they may face, share good practices from across EU Member States, and thus further build the capacity of social partners to continue supporting inclusive workplaces. A central part of the project will be the development of a good practices catalogue, including an example of a mentoring programme focused on further supporting the integration of these groups, as well as a recommendation on inclusive workplaces. It will pave the way for greater collaboration and involvement with public employment services, whose role is crucial in supporting the integration of the target groups identified in this project proposal. The project also seeks to align the efforts of the commerce sector with EU social policies and the social dimension of ESG reporting. By promoting inclusive workplaces and looking at areas, for example, hiring practices, career development, and policy alignment, the project will contribute to a fairer, more diverse, resilient and more sustainable labour market in Europe.