Quality of work - an essential condition for a successful labour market

The promotion of quality of work is one of the crucial policies by the means of which political goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy are attained nowadays, in a period of multiple economic and social challenges. However, quality of work cannot occur if there is lack of jobs and /or a low rate of employment. As most studies show a synergy between the level of employment and its quality, the policies regarding the improvement of labour market performance must consider both the quantitative and the qualitative aspects of employment. The new concept regarding the quality of work promoted by the European Commission - a multidimensional concept - started from the necessity of creating new job opportunities in the sectors with high value added for the economy and from the require of insuring better working conditions. Thus, socio-economic security, education and training, working conditions and reconciliation of working and non-working life and gender balance represent the main dimensions of the new approach. Permanent monitoring of quality of work is absolutely necessary for a right and fast identification of issues whose improvement or solution can be achieved by the means of promoting specific political measures and actions. For that purpose, this study elaborates an evaluation methodology of quality of work on the basis of a composite indicator, starting from the conceptual framework agreed at European level. The results of the quality of work evaluation for 27 out of the 28 Member States of the European Union highlight an alarming situation for Romania. It was determined that Romania registers the lowest performances in the dimensions of socio-economic security of the employees and their education and training. Therefore, these dimensions should be the first ones to consider when policies of quality of work improvement are under discussion in Romania.