Commenting on the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:

The “ethos of exploitation” which caused one of Europe’s most notorious industrial disasters is still leading to the deaths and injuries of migrant workers almost seven decades later, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) warned today.

The European trade union movement is sounding the alarm at proposals being tabled for the EU Talent Pool. The proposal would greenlight recruitment sharks who use exploitative methods. 

All the details are available here

Responding to the vote on the migration and asylum pact, ETUC Confederal Secretary Giulio Romani said:“The people saying this deal will ‘increase solidarity’ can’t know the meaning of the word.“It will see more people fleeing wars, extreme poverty and, increasingly, climate disasters, being treated as prisoners. “And it will inevitably lead to an increase in abuses of fundamental rights, illegal pushbacks, and returns to unsafe countries. 

ETUC Position on the European Commission Proposal for an EU Talent Pool Adopted at the Meeting of 6 and 7 December 2023

Break the chain of dependency and promote equal treatment of migrant workers Joint statement on the revision of the Single Permit Directive 18 European networks and organisations, representing trade unions and NGOs, call on EU lawmakers not to trap migrant workers in exploitation, by ensuring a meaningful right to change employer, and to ensure full equal treatment, particularly in private rented housing.

Following the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the island of Lampedusa on 17 September, the ETUC reiterates the urgent need for a fair and humane European asylum and migration policy, in line with international and EU legal obligations and in full respect of fundamental rights.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) strongly condemn the EU’s memorandum of understanding as overlooking an alarming level of human rights violations, including against migrants and trade unionists. 

Letter of the European Trade Union Confederation in view of the European Council meeting on 29-30 June 2023 sent to Heads of State and Government

The conclusions of the European Council call on the Commission to “immediately mobilise substantial EU funds and means to s

Brussels, 23 January 2023 To: Employment and Social Affairs Committee Dear Member in the Employment Committee, In April 2022, the European Commission proposed to amend the Directive 2011/98/EU on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State (Single Permit Directive).

On 19 December 2022, under the European Partnership for Integration, the Commission and five European Social and Economic Partners - ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEUnited and Eurochambres - renewed their commitment to integrate more effectively refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market with a joint statement.

Brussels, 22 December 2022 To: Members of the Executive Committee To: Members of the Migration and Inclusion Committee Dear colleagues, The adopted document on the recast of the Single Permit Directive (SPD) is now also available in French.

ETUC Position on the recast of the Single Permit Directive (SPD) Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 6 December 2022  

ETUC Position on the European Commission ‘Skills and Talent Package’ Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 27-28 October 2022 Background

Commenting on Council conclusions on ‘external aspects of migration’ – which follow conclusions on ‘security and defence’ – Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary said

Updated version adopted by the Executive Committee of 8-9 December The European trade union movement is extremely concerned about the humanitarian crisis at the border of Poland and Belarus and calls for immediate EU action to ensure migrants’ fundamental rights are respected and their humanitarian needs are met.

ETUC Position on the Implementation of the Employers Sanctions’ Directive Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 5-6 October 2021 Background

ETUC statement on Afghanistan Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee on 9 September 2021 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is alarmed with the situation in Afghanistan and concerned about the security of the Afghan people, both those that remain in the country and those seeking protection. The fall of the Afghan government has demonstrated the failure of the NATO and has shown the need for a relaunch of global multilateralism, based on democracy and peace, solidarity and respect for human rights.

Dear President von der Leyen,   Dear President Michel, Dear President Sassoli, Following the recent developments at the Lithuania-Belarus border, and the recent decision taken by the Lithuanian parliament to approve the mass detention of migrants, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls for immediate EU action to ensure migrants’ fundamental rights are respected.

On 14 April 2021, the European Commission published the new EU Strategy on combatting trafficking in human beings. This strategy builds on the EU legal and policy framework in place to tackle trafficking in human beings, rooted in the Anti-trafficking Directive.

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 22 March 2021 I. Setting the scene: why both labour mobility and migration should be fair

Danish trade unions are taking steps to welcome and support Eastern European and other migrant workers who often suffer unequal pay and poor working conditions. The 3F BJMF building workers’ union has designed posters in some seven languages, providing information on how to get in touch with people who can offer support, and other union initiatives.