Declaration of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Rejection in Switzerland of the so-called “limitation” initiative
Equal rights and efficient wage protection are the best solution for all workers, both European and Swiss
The ETUC congratulates its Austrian affiliate ÖGB for reaching a new tripartite agreement on short-time work.
Thanks to the strength of Austria’s trade unions, it was one of the first countries in Europe to secure workers’ incomes during the crisis and it is now leading the way in extending support.
This comes at a time where around 340.000 applications for short-time work have been filed in the country.
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The Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest health, economic and social challenge in the history of the European Union. Numerous European and national measures have been implemented to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus, also including those appertaining to workplaces and commuting to work.
Brussels, 14 July 2020
To Executive Committee
For information to ETUC Member Organisations
Dear Colleagues,
Please find enclosed the Discussion Paper on the European Commission’s Democracy Action Plan which was approved at the virtual Executive Committee Meeting that took place on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2020.
Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 2-3 July 2020
Summary of the key messages
This resolution aims at providing an analysis of the current scheme based on ETUC members’ experience as well as recommendations for further steps to reinforce the scheme, also in the view of the new urgencies caused by the pandemic.
Measures fall short of protecting posted workers in the outbreak of COVID-19
Posted workers in the EU face particular challenges in view of the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures imposed, not only in terms of border restrictions on the free movement of workers and services, but also in terms of emergency measures introduced to mitigate and protect workers and businesses from negative consequences of the crisis. Posted workers are at particular risk of being left behind.
On 13 May 2020, the European Commission issued a Communication on a phased and coordinated approach for restoring freedom of movement and lifting internal border controls. This guidance document is complemented by specific Guidelines on the progressive restoration of transport services and connectivity.
Economic and social policies to date have focused excessively on fiscal discipline rather than on public investment in health and care, this crisis clearly showing that this was to the detriment of the people in general. This fiscal discipline focused on austerity, cuts and privatisation; as a result, aging was seen as a cost on the country’s budget and financing of the health sector dwindled. ETUC has been denouncing the weakness of the health care systems in Europe for many years.
Migrant workers in Europe are on the frontline of the response to the COVID-19 crisis. Now more than ever, the crucial contribution of migrant workers to support European economies, public services and fill labour shortages is crystal clear. These workers are to be found in those sectors most hit by the crisis agriculture, domestic and care work, public healthcare at all levels, food industry, construction, tourism, transport) putting their lives at risk for the sake of all of us. Their work is essential; however, they are the forgotten ones.