The 2015-2017 work programme of the european partners 'partnership for inclusive growth and employment'

[Check against delivery]   President Juncker  President Tusk President Bettel Vice President Dombrovskis Commissioner Thyssen Minister Schmit Deputy Prime Minister Asscher Minister Richter Esteemed authorities, Dear colleagues from social partners, First of all let me tell you that the ETUC fully supports the European Commission’s initiatives to address the refugee emergency in Europe.

Commenting on the outcome of the Home Affairs Ministers Council on the refugee crisis, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “The failure to take the necessary decisions is a disgrace. “The little that has been agreed is grossly inadequate. The next time the Ministers meet the humanitarian crisis is likely to be considerably worse. They are playing political games while people are crying out for help, while people are dying.

Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday must show that EU Governments are capable of acting together, decisively and with compassion towards refugees. “EU Governments have got to respond positively to President Juncker’s proposals to tackle the humanitarian emergency on our borders” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “The inability of European Governments to act together so far on the refugee crisis is an international embarrassment for the EU and its citizens.”

Swedish trade unions and their business counterparts are helping new immigrants to obtain decent employment. The ‘Fast Track’ programme has already found 5,000 jobs for experienced chefs, for example, with backing from the Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (HRF). In cooperation with the Swedish Public Employment Service, the scheme aims to cut unemployment periods for new arrivals by rapidly validating their skills, especially in industries that are short of workers.

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol made an impassioned plea for fair freedom of movement for workers at the Round Table on Social Mobility convened by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. She made the case for equal pay and conditions for equal work, and urged the PMs to stop the downward pressure on wages caused by employers exploiting workers who have taken up freedom of movement.

The EU must agree the rather limited migrant relocation plan proposed today by the European Commission, said the European Trade Union Confederation. Although limited to 20,000 people, and despite possible opt-outs for some EU member states, the scale of situation in the Mediterranean makes a relocation plan absolutely necessary.

The ETUC is calling on European Council President Donald Tusk to call an emergency Council meeting to agree action to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean Sea.   

ETUC’s recommendations to the national governments and to the European Union on how to overcome obstacles to the mobility of frontier workers in Europe  Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015

Workers in Europe are suffering from social dumping!

In a judgment published today (aff. C-396/13 - Sähköalojen ammattiliitto), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its interpretation of Article 3.1 of Directive 96/71 on Posting of Workers Directive which says that the posted worker must be guaranteed the minimum rate of pay of the host country.

Commenting on the outcome of the vote today on the Enforcement of the Posted Workers Directive – in which MEPs rejected all amendments designed to strengthen enforcement - Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said  “At best, the European Parliament has failed to strengthen the enforcement of what are weak and  minimum rights for those working temporarily in other member states.” “At worst it undermines the ability of those member states who do try to enforce this Directive to do  so in future.”

The European Parliament must strengthen the enforcement of the Posted Workers Directive, or reject the compromise text reached in trialogue, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) told MEPs.   The European Parliament debates tomorrow (April 15), and votes the day after (April 16) on, the Posted Workers Enforcement Directive – the enforcement of rules on the rights of EU workers employed for a limited period in another member state. The ETUC believes that the text must be strengthened.  

Negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council on the Enforcement Directive have led to a very disappointing outcome. The European Parliament now has before it a draft legislation which will, if adopted, hardly advance the protection of posted workers and is nowhere near enough to stop on-going social dumping. The recognition that governments need to combat bogus self-employment is positive but far from adequate to meet the extent of the problem.

Brussels, 10/12/2013 Unfortunately the agreement reached in the council does not set this key principle with the necessary legal clarity. The list of control measures must be open. Contractors in any country must be responsible for enforcing conditions set by law or collective agreements (chain liability) on subcontractors. Problems are particularly acute in the construction sector, but not limited to it. The ETUC will continue to demand a compulsory joint and several liability covering all sectors.

Brussels, 06/12/2013 Labour ministers will meet on 9 and 10 December to discuss the Enforcement Directive of the Posting of Workers Directive as part of the Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council. In a letter to the responsible ministers, ETUC Secretary General Bernadette Ségol asks EU governments to respect the rights of workers and end social dumping in Europe.

Bruxelles, 2013

Brussels, 20/06/2013

Brussels, 11/06/2013 The action is focusing on the compromise proposals for the “Enforcement Directive” which are currently being discussed in the European Parliament. If some of these amendments were to be adopted, the risk of the re-introduction of the country-of-origin principle, initiating a race-to-the-bottom in Europe in terms of working conditions for cross-border workers, will become reality. - More information on the EFBWW day of action: http://www.efbww.org/default.asp?Index=875&Language=EN

Brussels, 07/05/2013

Brussels, 07/05/2013 Agenda Final Conference 9.00-9.45 Building a Union Agenda for a Mobility Revolution Introduction Patrick Itschert, Deputy General Secretary, ETUC 9.45-10.30 Keynote speech: Engaging the workforce in Europe’s sustainable mobility agenda - Keir Fitch, Deputy Head of Cabinet, Transport and Mobility 10.30-11.00 Coffee 11.00-12.30 Rights for Workers to Sustainable Mobility

Brussels, 21/02/2013 National authorities would be discouraged from spotlighting fraudulent companies as only a limited number of control measures would be authorised. Furthermore, an amendment seeks to restrict even more the Posted Workers Directive by only recognising a limited number of collective agreements.

Brussels, 04-05/02/2013 Presentations DAY 1 Sustainable Urban Mobility in the EU Sustainable Mobility and Logistics in Urban Areas - Cathy Macharis, Vrije Universiteit Brussels Sustainable Energy Action Plans Dealing with Transport and Mobility - Sebastian Marx, City of Gothenburg

Brussels, 2012 BACKGROUND Increasingly, public policy attention is directed towards how to address the rising greenhouse gas emissions from transport and promote sustainable transport practices. In April 2011, the Commission produced its Communication on the Single Transport Area as a sectoral Roadmap within the framework of the Roadmap 2050, which would see greenhouse gas emissions from transport reduced by 60% by 2050.