The ETUC is raising the alarm over European Commission plans to limit what information member states can request from employers about cross-border workers risk making it easier for bosses to exploit workers.
The Council of the EU today adopted its position on the Commission’s proposal to create a single EU system for the declaration of posted workers, which says member states “will not be able to impose additional requirements for posting declarations beyond those stipulated by the regulation.” This position is unacceptable as it does not offer sufficient guarantees for Member states to be able to collect the information they need at national level to effectively enforce the rights of posted workers and be able to cross-reference the data with national registers.
The proposal was already rejected twice by EU Ambassadors in Coreper, which has led the Polish EU Presidency to slightly broaden the information requirements. But the Commission's maximum harmonisation approach still remains a major concern.
Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said:
“A single digital system for the declaration of poster workers should be a win-win for workers and employers, making it easier for employers to properly register posted workers and labour inspectors to uphold workers’ rights.
“Unfortunately, the introduction of the system is being used as a smokescreen to simply cut the amount of information employers will be required to provide. The Commission’s own figures show that the initiative will produce paltry savings for businesses but workers could pay a heavy price.
“Unnecessary restrictions on what information can be collected risks making it more difficult for already strained public authorities to tackle bogus postings, letterbox companies, and ensure compliance with collective agreements.
“The ETUC calls for a more flexible approach based on an open list with minimum requirements that would lead to this system being used by a greater number of member states and therefore benefit more companies and workers. If the proposal is pushed through without change, very few member states will ever put it into action.”
