Competition and labour - A Trade Union Reading of EU Competition Policies
Competition practices are facing a growing range of criticisms amid concerns with corporate power at an all-time high. This raises a number of challenges, including adverse impact on sustainability issues and the widening of income inequalities. As far as the labour market dimension is concerned, the failure of competition policies and enforcers to assess and address the impact of growing corporate power on workers is contributing to lower employment, wages and working conditions.
This ETUC report raises questions about the apparent unwillingness of EU competition authorities to address the asymmetry of power between capital and labour. Demonstrating the shortcomings of competition policies with a narrow focus on only business efficiency and consumer interests, the study highlights the need for scrutiny of EU competition policies from a labour market perspective.