The European Commission issued is country specific recommendations on 2 June with 11 countries being urged to reform their wage setting, minimum wage or collective bargaining system in some way. In a statement from its collective bargaining committee the ETUC has again called on the Commission to recognise the important role that wages play in the economy and, particularly in the current climate, to acknowledge that a boost in wages across Europe would contribute to an economic recovery and reduce the threat of deflation.
Read more at > ETUC (EN)
ETUC reacts to Commission recommendations on wages
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ETUC criticises recommendations on wages
In reacting to this year's draft country-specific recommendations the ETUC has expressed disappointment that the European Commission remains reluctant to give any real encouragement to increased wages. ETUC general secretary Bernadette Ségol said: “The Commission continues to overlook the fact that wages in a twenty three member states are lagging behind productivity. The Commission fails to identify, or react to, the redistribution from wages to profits. Europe needs a wage rise for fairness and to increase demand, mainly by strengthening collective bargaining.” [Read more at > ETUC/CES (EN
ETUC CB committee rejects wage recommendations
The ETUC organised a summer school for its collective bargaining committee in Florence on 10-11 June where participants agreed a statement urging the European Council not to adopt any of the European Commission's country-specific recommendations on wages. The meeting agreed that the Commission's approach continues to be to repress wage developments despite the risk of deflation and continuing recession and with no regard for the impact on living standards and equality. The meeting also discussed proposals for how the ETUC could coordinate around the European Semester. [Read more at > EPSU-
Commission publishes recommendation on traineeships
In December the European Commission published a proposal for a Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships. The aim is to enable trainees to acquire high-quality work experience under safe and fair conditions, and to increase their chances of finding a good quality job. The Commission says that currently one in three traineeships is substandard with regard to working conditions or learning content. In March last year, EPSU and the other social partners agreed a joint statement on the Commission's consultation on a quality framework. [Read more at > European Commission (EN/FR