This informal meeting of European ministers for employment and social policy provides ministers with an opportunity to focus on one of the most difficult social problems facing Europe. The theme of the informal meeting is “getting people into work”. Ministers will share views and experiences on a number of policy areas, ranging from jobs and skills development in ICT, youth unemployment and activating jobless households, that will feed into the process of developing services and supporting European people back into work.

The first plenary session will be co-chaired by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD. The second plenary session on youth employment will be chaired by Minister Joan Burton.

Minister Joan Burton will also chair a workshop on active inclusion for jobless households, Minister Richard Bruton will chair a workshop on the employment and skills opportunities in the ICT area, and Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, Kathleen Lynch TD will chair a workshop on the labour market engagement of older women.