Barcelona agreement for quality employment

The Barcelona Agreement for Quality Employment (ABOQ 2021–2030) is the new strategic framework for rolling out quality employment policies in the city of Barcelona for the next decade.

The ABOQ 2021–2030 was devised jointly by Barcelona Activa, Barcelona City Council, the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC), major social and economic agents, and more than 50 civil organisations and third sector entities, both in the city and in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

The agreement’s core objective is to define quality employment strategies collectively and through consensus. It focuses on social and territorial consultation and prioritises social transformation, sustainability, and innovation. In addition, the social inequalities that affect access to the job market and working conditions are examined from an intersectional perspective.

The ABOQ is aligned with the city’s economic agenda, the Barcelona Green Deal, and the SDGs. It is inspired by various international strategies to promote quality, gainful employment.

The agreement also aspires to boost strategic economic sectors and foster the competitive capacity and quality of the city's productive ecosystem. Furthermore, it aims to innovate in guidance and support processes for those seeking work and entering the labour market. On top of that, it seeks to prioritise quality in the working and living conditions of workers, especially for those in a vulnerable situation in the labour market.

The ABOQ defines a total of 10 aspects in the form of ‘The Ten Pillars of Quality Employment in Barcelona’, which sets out how to design new active employment policies and implement them through public–private partnership.