Migration, Trade, Europe, Bulgaria
ETUC welcomes posted workers vote
The ETUC has welcomed the vote by the European Parliament to support changes to the posted workers' directive. The changes were negotiated between the Parliament, European Commission and Council and now the Directive can be used to guarantee that posted workers get the same pay rates as locally employed workers. The ETUC concedes that there was a significant compromise in the exclusion of road transport workers but identified this and the need to ensure application through the sub-contracting chain as issues to be taken up in future.
Health workers call for higher pay to stop emigration
On 12 May healthworkers in Sofia and Zagreb demonstrated over poor pay and working conditions and the crisis of understaffing. 5000 nurses, medical professionals, midwives and lab technicians joined a demonstration outside the Council of Ministers in Sofia demanding a 1500 Lev (EUR 765) minimum wage for health workers as a step towards stemming the flow of health workers out of the country. In Zagreb the call was also for improved pay and working conditions and in particular the respect for collective agreements in relation to overtime pay.
Japanese and European public service unions condemn secrecy in trade negotiations and the lack of a progressive agenda addressing people’s concerns
Today Public services unions from Europe and Japan have sent an open letter to Cecilia Malstrom and Fumio Kishida demanding greater transparency in the negotiations to reach a trade agreement between Japan and the EU (JEFTA).
Support for recast posted workers directive
(January 2017) Last month the European Economic and Social Committee gave its backing in principle to the European Commission's proposed recast of the Posted Workers Directive. It noted in particular how the concept of "remuneration" might help ensure equal pay for equal work but on time limits suggested six rather than 24 months. The ETUC is coordinating lobbying work around the Directive which is being discussed in the European Parliament's Employment Committee with a deadline for amendments of 9 February.
EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) calls on European Commission to open labour consultations on trade union rights pursuant to the EU-Korea FTA
In a new turn of events, the EU’s Domestic Advisory Groups (DAG) composed of social partners and civil society representatives has recommended that the European Commission initiates a formal consultation process provided for in the EU Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Workers Rights on agenda of EU-Korea Domestic Advisory Group
Attacks on trade unions and the worsening labour rights situation in the Republic of Korea were one of the main items on the agenda of the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that met on 5 October.
Civil society groups call on European governments to reject the CETA agreement
A broad group of civil society and consumer organisations as well as trade unions call on the EU’s trade ministers to reject the signature of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada.
