Responding to the EU Employment and Social Policy ministers’ unanimous agreement on the text of the Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which gives the authorisation to Member States to sign it at the Gothenburg Summit on November 17, Esther Lynch, Confederal Secretary at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said: “Labour Ministers have done the right thing today and put aside differences to agree the European Pillar of Social Rights.

It’s a big week in the EU for social rights, and conditions for working people. Tomorrow (Monday 23 October) the Employment Council is expected to decide on - The revision of the Posted Workers Directive - The European Pillar of Social Rights On Thursday (27 October) the European Parliament votes on the revision of the Posted Workers Directive.

Tripartite Social Summit – Estonian Presidency Brussels, 18th October 2017 Speech given by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary [Check against delivery] Esteemed Presidents, Vice President, Commissioner, Ministers, Dear colleagues from social partners, This Tripartite Social Summit comes in the middle of discussions about the future of Europe and few days before the expected proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

At today’s Tri-Partite Social Summit - with Presidents Juncker and Tusk, Prime Minister Ratas of Estonia, and the Labour Ministers of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria - Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation called for fast proclamation of an ambitious European Pillar of Social Rights and proposed a series of initiatives including:    

In light of new evidence, trade unions and labour organizations are today renewing their calls to the European Commission to make good on its promise to launch a trade investigation into Bangladesh as a result of its government’s continued failure to make urgently needed reforms to the law and practice governing trade union rights in the country’s Ready Made Garment industry.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament to adopt today the compromise package proposed by the co-rapporteurs. If adopted today and confirmed by the plenary next week, this package will become the official mandate for the European Parliament to negotiate with Council during “trilogue” discussions. The ETUC has long been calling on MEPs for a revision to ensure posted workers receive equal pay or the same work in the same place as a local worker.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) strongly supports its Italian members, CGIL, CISL and UIL in their efforts to have the 'Ius soli and Ius culturae' bill adopted by their national chamber by the end of this legislative term. The ETUC considers citizenship to be a fundamental right, in the spirit of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, and that children’s interests should come first.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed the publication today of the 2017 Gender Equality Index by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), showing some small improvements in gender equality in Europe since 2015.

Background paper ETUC project “Safe at home Safe at work” - Trade unions’ strategies to prevent, manage and eliminate workplace harassment and violence against women   Recommendations   Ten things that unions can do to tackle harassment and violence against women work   Prioritise social dialogue between employers and unions, in jointly agreeing policies, procedures and awareness raising amongst managers and workers.

The ETUC welcomes the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships presented by EU commissioner Marianne Thyssen today.

Speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary  Check against delivery

Dear Readers, We have just published the September 2017 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!