Context – The European Commission today published its proposal for a Council Recommendation aiming at ensuring that the Union’s transition towards a climate-neutral and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050 is fair and leaves nobody behind, in line with the European pillar of Social Rights. The proposal invites Member States to adopt and implement comprehensive and coherent policy packages to address the employment and social aspects to promote a fair transition.

Dear readers, Against the backdrop of post-Covid shortages of both skilled and unskilled workers around Europe – from Croatia to Sweden - trade unions and employers in many countries are taking steps to equip workers for digital and environmentally sustainable workplaces. In this edition of National Updates we look at some of these initiatives, as well as steps to ease labour market access for older and younger workers.

The European Commission’s Action Plan to boost the social economy to be an useful initiative for a under-appreciated and often-neglected sector says the ETUC. Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said “The social economy accounts for 10% of the EU’s GDP and includes many cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, not for profit organisations as well as enterprises.

Commenting on the European Commission consultation on draft guidelines on EU competition law and collective agreements of solo self-employed people, Isabelle Schömann, ETUC Confederal Secretary said  “Collective agreements should be fully excluded from antitrust control, regardless of whether they protect employees, self-employed or other non-standard workers, including workers on digital labour platforms.

Responding to the European Commission’s proposal for a directive on working conditions in platform work, ETUC Confederal Secretary Ludovic Voet said: “For too long platform companies have made huge profits by dodging their most basic obligations as employers at the expense of workers, responsible employers and underfunded public services. The free ride for Uber, Deliveroo and Amazon and their cronies is finally coming to an end.

Delivery riders, taxi drivers and online workers are among millions of workers who could benefit from secure contracts, minimum wages and paid holiday under Commission proposals to end fake self-employment. Until now, platform companies have exploited legal loopholes to maximise their profits by categorising all workers as self-employed. Individual workers and their unions have had to take companies to court to prove their status as employees but platforms continued to deny basic legal rights.

The gap in earnings between the richest and poorest Europeans grew in a majority of EU countries over the last decade, according to a new report which underlines the need for EU action to end poverty pay. The ‘unequal Europe’ report released today by the ETUC and its ETUI research institute shows wage inequality increased in 14 member states between 2010 and 2019, most notably in Hungary, Spain and Belgium.

Commenting on reports that the European Commission is to allow me

The European Commission has indefinitely postponed its promised directive on human rights due diligence - over 150 days since it was first meant to be delivered.

Dear Readers, We have just published the November 2021 edition of the ETUC newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Commenting on today’s Commission proposals for new EU laws on electoral integrity and democratic participation, Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said “Democracy is coming under increasing threat in Europe . Today’s European Commission proposals on political advertising, electoral rights and party funding represent small but significant steps towards strengthening our democracy.  

The European Parliament today voted strongly in favour of opening negotiations with the European Council on the draft directive on minimum wages on the basis of the

EU institutions are significantly delaying important measures to tackle gender-based violence despite a rise in the number of attacks, trade unions are warning on the international day for the elimination of violence against women.