Social dialogue in the footwear sector covers activities related to NACE (Rev.2) code 15.20 which covers the manufacture of footwear.
The sectoral social dialogue committee has been created in 1999, replacing the informal working committee previously functioning since 1982.
In 2022, more than 16,500 firms and 226,650 workers (including self-employed) were active in the European footwear sector (Eurostat Structural Business Statistics - SBS).
Footwear manufacturing represented a relatively small fraction of the total production in the EU manufacturing sector at around 0.3% across EU27 countries, and most companies (about 95% in 2022) employed less than 50 persons.
The EU's competitive advantages lie in the high quality of production in technical, design and fashion-related terms and the development of sought-after brands with a strong image.
The sector faces the following main challenge:
- Vulnerability to global challenges such as higher inflation and prices rates, climate change and the digital transition.
- Attractiveness for new and skilled workers.
Workers' organisations
Employers' organisations
Key areas
The current work programme focuses on:
- economic, social and political instabilities
- monitoring the European Industrial policy
- circular economy, environment, and social dimension
- monitoring Trade agreements and potential barriers
- due diligence
- skills
- social dialogue.
Activities & meetings
Check the the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.
Achievements/Joint texts
Check the social dialogue texts database.