Brussels, 2010 A Resource Guide

Brussels, 01-02/12/2010 Despite the major battle won by the trade unions against the content of the Bolkestein directive, for the sake of guaranteeing posted workers the application of employment and working conditions in the country where the activity takes place, various judgments by the European Court of Justice (Laval, Viking, Ruffert, Luxembourg, Germany) have highlighted the objective that we have been seeking to achieve.

Bruxelles, 18/11/2010

Brussels, 13-14/10/2010 Two legislative proposals have been put forward by the European Commission in July this year concerning the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of seasonal work and in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer (ICT).

Brussels, 21/10/2010 The ETUC has been demanding fully paid maternity leave for at least 18 weeks, without any ceiling at national level. The Parliament voted in favour of extending maternity leave to 20 weeks, but the remuneration for the last four weeks would vary according to national legislation.

Brussels, 15/10/2010 We want full payment of maternity leave for a period of at least 18 weeks, enhanced provisions on health and safety notably in terms of prevention and risk assessment, inclusion of domestic workers in the scope of the new directive and stronger provisions against dismissal of women during and after returning from maternity leave.

Brussels, 22/09/2010

Training module produced as part of a ETUC project 2010

Project to strengthen contacts and mutual exchange of experience between the trade unions of Turkey and trade unions of EU Member States. (2010) Trade unions and migration into the European Union Trade unions and free movement of workers in the European Union

Brussels, 2009

Brussels, 17/05/2010 The ETUC is at the forefront in defending human rights. This fight not only includes trade union rights, but it also covers a strong commitment to equal treatment and non-discrimination as well as respect and dignity for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT).

Brussels, 05/03/2010

Brussels, 1-2/12/2009 Introduction On 20 October 2006 the European Commission launched a consultation in two stages of the European social partners on the issue of reconciliation of professional, private and family life. The ETUC expressed its views quite extensively[[ETUC’s position on the first stage of consultation: http://www.etuc.org/a/3194 ETUC’s position on the second stage of consultation: http://www.etuc.org/a/3910 ]].

Brussels, 30/11/2009 ETUC Reply for download To download the ETUC reply, please click on the icon below.

Brussels, 16/11/2009 The declaration, titled “Fight discrimination and guarantee equality for all”, was issued by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and Social Platform. It urged decision makers to take action on the following six points: 1) Ensure the adoption by the European Council of the proposed Article 13 Directive protecting against discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief, and sexual orientation in all areas of life

Brussels, 19/06/2009 ETUC calls on all Member States to ensure that any human beings fleeing armed conflict and political violence, or in fear of persecution because of, for instance, their political convictions, ethnic or religious origin, or their gender or sexual orientation, should receive appropriate protection.

Brussels, 07/05/2009 The report on the Commission proposals, prepared by the socialist MEP Mrs Estrela, included important provisions aiming to improve the health and safety protection for pregnant workers and their unborn child, as well as to improve the conditions of maternity leave.

Brussels, 06/03/2009 As the recession spreads and deepens in the global economy, both women and men will suffer the labour market consequences, and gender inequality risks being exacerbated by the crisis. In times of an economic downturn, women often experience the negative consequences in different ways then men, related to their double role as workers and carers. As they are also more likely than men to be in low-paid, precarious employment they face a greater risk of immediate poverty when becoming unemployed.

Brussels, 31/01/2009 Introduction On 20 October 2006 the European Commission launched a consultation in two stages of the European social partners on the issue of reconciliation of professional, private and family life.

Brussels, 04/12/2009 Introduction The European Trade Union Confederation is at the forefront in defending human rights, trade union rights and equality for all workers. This commitment also includes the fight for equal treatment and non-discrimination, respect and dignity for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans-gendered workers (LGBT). As is said in the ETUC Congress document adopted in Seville in 2007:

Brussels, 04/02/2009 ETUC welcomes the general principle of back payment of wages to migrant workers and the introduction of administrative and criminal sanctions against employers. These measures could play a dissuasive role on rogue businesses. But the directive will be difficult to enforce in practice because the agreed text fails to properly extend the liability to pay such sanctions to the whole subcontracting chain.

Brussels, 12/12/2009 The European Commission presented – as part of the ‘Renewed Social Agenda’ on 2 July 2008 – a proposal for a directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. The objective of the proposal is to determine how patients can exercise their right - which has been recognised by the European Court of Justice (EJC) - to seek healthcare in other Member States.

Brussels, 03–04/12/2008

Brussels, 4–5 March 2008 On 17 October 2007, the Commission published a new Communication, entitled Modernising social protection for greater social justice and economic cohesion: taking forward the active inclusion of people furthest from the labour market (COM (2007) 620 final), thus launching a second consultation phase of the social partners.

Brussels, 2008 This leaflet is the outcome of the EC funded project ‘Extending equality’ that ETUC carried out in partnership with the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe) in 2008.