Social protection

Social protection guards against the major risks of life, as set out in ILO Convention 102, such as loss of income due to maternity, paternity, old age and related dependency, involuntary unemployment or part-time, precarious or irregular work, caring and family duties, illness and need for healthcare, disability, and the risk of falling into poverty.

Schemes are often linked directly to working life (e.g. pensions), and financed through contributions, frequently based on earnings. In an ageing Europe, the ETUC demands universal coverage and full access to pensions and long-term care in all Member States, to ensure that elderly people can live in dignity. Minimum income schemes should be established to protect people from extreme poverty and deprivation, while supporting their active inclusion in society and the labour market.

Social protection is a fundamental part of the European social model, supporting groups suffering exclusion from the labour market or atypical employment and managing just and sustainable transitions in the economy and the labour market. The ETUC sees it is a crucial driver for universal social rights, economic development and quality job creation.

Content type:- Any -
Document type:- Any -
  • 03.04.2024 Document

    For fair and inclusive pension policy in the EU

    For fair and inclusive pension policy in the EU  Resolution Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 26-27 March 2024 The EU context and trade unions' concerns about social security and pension policy
  • 19.02.2024 Page

    ETUC Call for tenders to subcontract an expert to draft a study on Public Policies for Active Ageing

    This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise with a view to support the activities of the Social Protection team under the ETUC project SociAll – Enhancing social protection for all through the implementation of the EPSR. More specifically, this call for tenders relates to the drafting of an expert study on active ageing. The ETUC will publish the call on its website, on 19/02/2024, and keep it online for 15 calendar days. The deadline for submission of bids is 04/03/2024.
  • 14.02.2024 Page

    Call for tenders to subcontract an expert to draft a study on the impact of the EU fiscal rules revision on social spending

    This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise with a view to support the activities of the Social Protection team under the ETUC project SociAll – Enhancing social protection for all through the implementation of the EPSR. More specifically, this call for tenders relates to the drafting of an expert study on the impact of the EU fiscal rules’ revision on social spending and specifically on States’ expenditure for pensions, health and long-term care.
  • 04.04.2023 Document

    ETUC position - The ETUC response to the High-Level Group report on the Future of Social Protection and of the Welfare State

    The ETUC response to the High-Level Group report on the Future of Social Protection and of the Welfare State Position adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023 Summary of the Position a.  The Final Report of the High-Level Group of experts on the future of social protection and the welfare state in the EU was launched on 7 February 2023.
  • 28.09.2022 Press release

    EU needs adequate minimum incomes now!

    Cover
    With more than one in five persons in the EU, 94.5 million, already ‘at risk of poverty or social exclusion’ last year – and with inflation now running at 9.1% - the ETUC is calling on Ministers to adopt the European Commission’s Recommendation on minimum incomes as a matter of urgency – and not wait for another 8 years before implementing it!    “Rising prices hit people in poverty the hardest” said Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary “and the poor cannot wait until 2030 for the recommendations to be implemented.
  • 30.06.2022 Document

    ETUC Resolution adopted: European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Future of Social Protection

    European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Future of Social Protection ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 22-23 June 2022 Summary of the Resolution a.  The Resolution summarises the ETUC’s main messages delivered in the social partner’s dedicated hearings on welfare and social protection policy, organised by the European Commission. - The topics  ranged from the future of the welfare state in the EU to the initiatives to be undertaken in the  provision of essential services.
  • 09.12.2021 Document

    ETUC position for A Just Transition Legal Framework to complement the Fit for 55 package

    ETUC position for A Just Transition Legal Framework to complement the Fit for 55 package Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 8-9 December 2021 Background On 14 July 2021, the European Commission released its Fit for 55 Package. This package consists of 13 legislative proposals that aim at aligning EU climate and energy policies with the new climate targets set by the recently adopted Climate Law – a GHG emission reduction of at least 55% by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels, and climate neutrality by 2050.
  • 11.06.2021 Document

    ETUC resolution on a Child Guarantee (adopted)

    ETUC resolution on a Child Guarantee Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee Meeting of 3-4 June 2021 Summary The aim of this document is to provide the ETUC inputs on the key elements of the European Commission’s proposal for a Child Guarantee. Such views have been discussed and developed within the trade union delegation participating at a dedicated hearing with European Social Partners in Autumn 2020, and further discussed with the ETUC permanent Committee on Social Protection.
  • 17.12.2019 Press release

    ETUC supports French unions' pension protests

    Demonstration
    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports French trade unions in their protests on 17 December. The ETUC invites the French Government to consult, and take into account, the proposals of the French unions.   The French unions are unanimous in opposing any increase in the pension age and cuts in pension levels.
  • 18.09.2019 Page

    A new pensions system for Dutch workers

    Trade unions, employers and government in the Netherlands have reached agreement on a new pensions system, after years of negotiation.   It means that the current state pension age of 66 years and four months will not increase until 2021. After that, the pension age will rise, but more slowly than originally foreseen.  The current link with the rise in life expectancy is being abandoned. A year’s increase in life expectancy will mean an additional eight months’ work, rather than a full year. 
  • 04.04.2019 Document

    ETUC Action on access to social protection (Resolution)

    ETUC action on access to social protection (Resolution) Adopted at the Executive Committee of 26 – 27 March 2019 Background In March 2018 the European Commission issued a proposal for a Council Recommendation on Access to Social Protection for Workers and self-employed.
  • 23.11.2018 Document

    ETUC position on the proposal of Pan European Personal Pensions (PEPP)

    ETUC position on the proposal of Pan European Personal Pensions (PEPP) Adopted at the Executive Committee of 23-24 October 2018 Key messages 1. The regulation of a Pan-European Personal Pension product, currently under the Trialogue process, should acknowledge the high social relevance of pension savings. Despite its nature within the financial market dimension, PEPPs should remain restricted to the market of private products, freely but with high safety guarantees available to individuals.
  • 05.09.2018 Press release

    European Personal Pensions must guarantee savings says ETUC

    ETUC
    The ETUC calls for pension savings to be fully protected in the proposal for Pan-European Personal Pension which will now go to negotiations between the EU Institutions, following the vote in the EP’s Economic Affairs Committee earlier this week.   The Committee failed to ensure that PEPP providers would be required to guarantee workers’ pension savings when investing them on the financial market.
  • 01.06.2018 Page

    Social partners on German pensions reform group

    Trade unions will join employers, politicians and experts on a new ‘Pensions Commission’ to examine the future of pensions in Germany, following a campaign by ETUC German affiliate DGB. The campaign demand: ‘Pensions must be adequate - change course now!’ put pressure on the coalition government to confront the challenge of guaranteeing sustainable protection for pensioners in the future, from 2025 onwards.
  • 13.03.2018 Press release

    European Commission social fairness package

    The European Trade Union Confederation today welcomed the European Commission’s Social Fairness package.   ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “These initiatives should bring some real improvements for working people and ensure that the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are implemented through binding measures that make a positive difference to people’s lives. It’s a step forward which the ETUC welcomes as far as it goes.  

Contacts

Mr Giulio ROMANI

Confederal Secretary

Ms Marina MONACO

Senior Advisor

Ms Esyllt MEURIG

Administrative Assistant to Giulio Romani