EU | Status and working conditions in the creative sector

EU Commission logoThe DG EAC of the European Commission is publishing a study on workers in the European creative sector

According to the Commission, this study, commissioned from the European Expert Network on Culture and Audiovisual (EENCA), comes within the scope of objectives for the New European Agenda for Culture adopted in 2018. Among the aims is helping the Member States ensure fair remuneration for workers in the creative sector through social dialogue and the implementation of an ecosystem favourable to such workers.

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ILO | Policy brief on sexual harassment in the entertainment industry

ILO Broef on sexual harassment

The Violence and Harassment Recommendation, 2019 (No. 206) includes entertainment among sectors and occupations which may be particularly exposed to violence and harassment. Against this background, this brief analyses trends and patterns of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, and it provides a picture of relevant laws and other means to protect workers in the industry.

The brief is based on a global survey of workers’ perceptions of sexual harassment at work and in work-related environments. Findings show that working conditions and the organization of work can have a role in exacerbating occurrences of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

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EAEA-Pearle* press release re. EU recovery plans

EAEA-Pearle* logosBrussels, 14 October 2020

European Social Partners of the Live Performance Sector call for a coordinated action plan to secure the recovery and sustainability of the cultural sector

PEARLE*- Live Performance Europe representing over 10 000 organisations and the EAEA – European Arts and Entertainment Alliance, representing more than 150 unions, guilds, and associations and over 600 000 performers, technicians and staff in the music, performing arts and live sector – are calling on the EU institutions and national governments to adopt a coordinated approach including short-term support measures and long-term investment to save the European cultural sector amid a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic across Europe.

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ILO | COVID-19 and the media and culture sector

ILO brief on the impact of covid-19

This ILO brief highlights the impact of COVID-19 on the media and culture sector, hit hard by unemployment and closed productions.

It analyses how the sector’s diversity in terms of contract types and occupations creates challenges in accessing social protection, safety and health, and economic relief programmes.

The brief also offers policy options, drawing from countries’ examples and initiatives from workers’ and employers’ organizations, to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic on the sector.

View/download the ILO brief

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Post Covid-19 return to work safety protocols

In the context of the Covid-19 crisis and its devastating effect on the media and entertainment industry, FIA, FIM and UNI MEI held a series of online webinars focusing on post-Covid-19 return to work safety protocols.

The Covid-19 crisis has ripped through our industry. Since the beginning of the crisis, cinemas, theatres and live shows of all sorts and sizes have been cancelled, undermining the livelihood of performers and other entertainment workers. As lockdowns and confinement measures are gradually eased around the world, the challenge for the trade unions in the media and entertainment industry is to build a safe path to a “new normal” and to ensure that production protocols are adapted to prevent unnecessary risks at the workplace.

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EU | The directive on copyright adopted by the Parliament

Votes count for copyright directive

Adopted on 26 March 2019, the directive on copyright in the digital single market opens up the way for a fair remuneration of performers.

With its partners from the Fair Internet coalition, FIM has been working relentlessly and continuously for four years now to promote performers’ interests with members of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council.

Our priority aim was to introduce a remuneration mechanism enabling all performers to receive a fair share of the revenue generated online by the exploitation of their recordings, including after the transfer of their exclusive rights.

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WHO | “Make Listening Safe” Initiative

OMS Safe listening conferenceThe World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organised a consultative meeting on a new standard aimed at reducing risks linked to the use of devices for listening to music (audio players and smartphones). Held on the 13 and 14 February 2019 at WHO headquarters in Geneva, the meeting brought together acousticians, engineers, researchers and representatives of musicians’ and hearing-impaired organisations.

WHO reminds us that 500 million people throughout the world currently suffer from deafness, including 34 million children.

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Closing the “Creative Skills Europe” project in Göteborg

Göteborg | Final conference of Creative skills projectThe final conference of the Creative Skills Europe project took place on 5 February 2019 in Göteborg (Sweden). It has opened the way to enhanced technical cooperation between the various national skills councils in the performing arts and audiovisual sectors, but also at the level of European social dialogue.

Participants suggested future European initiatives aimed at meeting needs in skills. Exchanges addressed the following issues in particular:
– developing e-learning
– sharing contents to foster and facilitate skills development where freelance workers are concerned
– creating mechanisms for better recognition of qualifications and skills at the European level.

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Bogota | FIM Latin America Regional Workshop

Group photo of the Bogota regional seminar, Nov. 2018The Declaration on Gender Equity in Musicians’ Unions, drafted by women union leaders on 1st November 2018 in Montevideo, was unanimously adopted by Latin American union leaders in Bogota.

By Ananay Aguilar

On 27–29 November 2018, FIM held a regional workshop in Bogota in the framework of a project funded by Swedish organisation Union To Union, with support from the Swedish Musicians’ Union SMF. The event brought together representatives from Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.

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Malawi | Cooperation between MUM and SMF is following its course

Lilongwe workshop of 23-25 October 2018For some fifteen years now, Swedish union SMF has been developing a union training course for its Malawi counterpart, MUM.

FIM, the Swedish Musicians’ Union (SMF) and the Musicians’ Union of Malawi (MUM) organised a union training workshop in Lilongwe from 23 to 25 October 2018, with financial backing from Swedish confederation Union to Union.

Two issues were addressed at the same time:
1. Union organisation and operation. This part was run by representatives from SMF, the General Secretary of the Zimbabwean union ZIMU and a representative from union confederation MCTU, a partner of MUM.

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