On 16 October 2024, a delegation of trade union representatives met with employers and key figures of the European Commission. Jarkko Eloranta, Vice-President, European Trade Union Confederation, made the following intervention (to be checked against delivery).
Dear President,
Dear Vice-President,
Dear Commissioner,
Dear social partners,
As we approach the new Commission mandate, it is important that we see key elements of the outgoing mandate remain strongly on the agenda.
Emphasis on social dialogue and collective bargaining as a method for progress in wages, working conditions and fair transitions; And the commitment to continue the implementation of the European pillar of social rights, and to introduce new European rights that are necessary in the changing world of work.
At the same time, it’s important to ensure proper implementation of important recent directives, like the Minimum Wages Directive and the Pay Transparency Directive.
When it comes to promoting collective bargaining, as prescribed by the Minimum Wages Directive, we see that in some member states – my own country Finland included – policies are introduced with the exact opposite effect: policies that weaken social dialogue, undermine well-functioning (sectoral) collective bargaining and reduce the coverage of collective agreements. In the follow-up of both the Minimum Wages Directive and the Council Recommendation on Social Dialogue, these negative developments must be examined closely.
Furthermore, the forthcoming reform of EU public procurement rules should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen collective bargaining and safeguard decent conditions for all workers. At the same time, we need new instruments to regulate subcontracting that too often means social dumping and exploitation of workers. The main contractor must be responsible for the entire subcontracting chain.
Finally, I’d like to express my support for the reinforced emphasis on investments that Europe needs to renew its industries and economy, and to be strong and competitive enough in today’s world. It is important that we invest together in a way that serves our common strategic goals, that builds on and strengthens European excellence, and that reinforces our European social model.