Reconversion on the mining industries and re-employment of miners
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly Debate on 29th September 1966 (14th Sitting) (see Doc. 2094, report of the Social Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 29th September 1966 (14th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that, within the development of the modern economy, the mining industries of Western Europe - coal, iron-ore, potash, sulphur, rock-salt and others - will in many cases be obliged to cut production or even close down;
2. Considering that the need for reconversion is not peculiar to the mining industries but affects almost all the main branches of the economy;
3. Having regard, however, to the specific nature of the work of mine workers, which is more dangerous and more unhealthy than most other occupations, and the compensatory benefits awarded them for this reason;
4. Having regard to the special difficulties entailed in finding new employment for miners in other occupations;
5. Believing that in all cases human beings must be regarded as the purpose of the economic process and not as its tool;
6. Considering that the basic units of human life - the family, the local community and the region - must be preserved as far as possible;
7. Having regard to the important measures taken by national and international authorities, particularly by the High Authority of ECSC, on behalf of the workers in mines which have had to cease or curtail their activity;
8. Taking note of the report of the Social Committee (
Doc. 2094),
9. Is of the opinion that the following principles should be applied in reconversion and the re-employment of workers in the mining industries:
a Economic surveys and prospective studies on future developments and changes must make it possible to establish very long-term plans for industrial reconversion and the re-employment of workers;
b Reconversion operations so planned must be carried through in an atmosphere of calm, and in accordance with the timing established in advance;
c Local, regional, administrative and professional bodies must be associated with the preparation and carrying out of these operations, and a special effort must be made to keep informed the staff of the firms concerned;
d Workers discharged as a result of reconversion operations and their families must be given financial assistance, compensation, grants, etc., in order to guard them from any lowering of social standing; consideration might already be given to retiring older workers before the age limit but without reduction of pension;
e The vocational training of young miners must be such as to enable them to adjust easily to another occupation;
10. Requests its members to base their action in national Parliaments on these principles;
11. Instructs its Social Committee to continue its studies on the subject and report back to it in due course.
