EFCI attends EP hearing on social impact of public procurement

dialogue.

During his presentation, Mattioli emphasised the following key points:

Economic impact

In October EFCI participated in a hearing, organised by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EMPL) to discuss the findings of a report on the social impact of the current public procurement provisions. For the first time, EFCI was given the opportunity to present its views before the members of the European Parliament on an issue of fundamental importance for the sector. Director general Matteo Matarazzo tells us more.

Following the invitation of the president of the EMPL Committee, MEP Dragos Pislaru, EFCI president Lorenzo Mattioli took part in the October hearing of the European Parliament on the social impact of the 2014 public procurement directive. At the centre of the exchanges, the presentation of a report commissioned by the EMPL Committee, investigating how the current provisions of the directive have contributed (or not) to the achievement of more social objectives through public procurement.

Following the presentation of the report by its authors, different speakers have taken the floor: Professor Schulten from the Hans-Bockler Stiftung, Dr Jaerhling from the Duisburg-Essen University, Mr Skjellerup from the Municipality of Copenhagen and Mr Rothig, regional secretary of UNIEuropa, the trade union counterpart of EFCI in the sectoral social

Public procurement significantly influences the cleaning industry, contributing up to 50 per cent of turnover in some countries. This not only sustains financial health but also shapes market conditions for private clients.

Labour costs challenge

With labour costs exceeding 80 per cent of the industry’s total expenses, recent inflationary trends, particularly in salary adjustments, present financial challenges, impacting the sector’s overall landscape.

Directive gaps

The 2014 public procurement directive lacks clarity on price revision mechanisms, leading to varied regulations across

Member States. Companies struggle to recover increased salary costs, operating at a loss, and facing sustainability concerns.

Advocacy for change

EFCI, alongside stakeholders, advocates for explicit guarantees in the directive, enabling member states to revise public contract prices. This push aims to ensure companies can recover increased costs, upholding service quality and employment standards.

Financial dimensions

A presented study highlighted concerns about financial conditions in tender awards. Despite the “best quality-price ratio” principle, tenders often prioritise the lowest price, potentially compromising service quality.

Call for professionalisation

The study emphasised member states’ tendency to award tenders solely based on the lowest price, underscoring the need for improved technical capacity and enforcement. Public authorities play a crucial role in fostering professionalisation among contracting authorities.

As the industry adapts to these challenges, ongoing discussions, including an event on public procurement in November, will shape the future of the cleaning industry. Stay tuned for updates in our commitment to navigate this evolving landscape. www.efci.eu

Mattero Matarazzo, cadre de la FENI à Bruxelles, rend compte de la réunion qu’a récemment tenue la Commission de l’emploi et des affaires sociales du Parlement européen sur ses conclusions concernant les incidences sociales des dispositions actuelles en matière d’achats publics.

Matteo Matarazzo (EFCI) berichtet aus Brüssel von einer Sitzung des Ausschusses für Beschäftigung, soziale Angelegenheiten und Chancengleichheit des Europäischen Parlaments (EMPL), bei der die Ergebnisse eines Berichts über die sozialen Auswirkungen der geltenden Bestimmungen für die öffentliche Auftragsvergabe erörtert wurden.

Dalla EFCI di Bruxelles, il corrispondente Matteo

Matarazzo ci informa su un meeting che è stato tenuto di recente dal comitato Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EMPL) per discutere i risultati di una relazione sull’impatto sociale delle attuali disposizioni in materia di appalti pubblici.