Brussels, 12/10/2006
It is now six years since the European social partners were first consulted on the need to review systems of labour law to make sure that they are relevant to a modern organisation of work. Yet the Commission still fails to publish a Green Paper, despite announcing it several times.
In the meantime, several Member States have made reforms to their labour law that, far from creating better jobs, are leading to a two-tier labour market with growing insecurity for the most vulnerable groups of workers.
Furthermore, changing production methods and work organisation, the growth of subcontracting and outsourcing, the movement of capital and relocation of production facilities, are combining to spread insecurity not only among atypical workers but also permanent employees in core companies.
“The increasing cross-border mobility of workers, enterprises and services in an enlarging EU poses serious questions,” said General Secretary John Monks. The ETUC insists that fair and decent working standards across the EU are crucial to proper management of an emerging single European labour market.
The ETUC deplores attempts by UNICE to block publication of the Green Paper, and urges the Commission not to yield to this pressure, which would further damage the EU's public image.
“It would be interpreted as yet another signal that the Commission is more concerned about the interests of business than the interests of citizens and workers,” warned John Monks. “A Green Paper is supposed to start a debate, and the ETUC is ready for such a debate.”
- Letter to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso