Raising the quality of jobs – not lowering standards – is the real answer to the challenges facing Europe’s economy, trade unions have told the European Commission’s consultation on the Quality Jobs Act.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is today publishing its detailed proposals for the contents of the new law needed to address the impact of poor quality jobs on both workers and companies.
Nearly one in five workers in Europe are in low-quality jobs with low pay and poor prospects. That not only traps individual workers in poverty, but research shows that jobs with low pay and conditions are exacerbating the labour shortages damaging Europe's economy.
A failure to train workers is also a major contributor to the skills shortage. Only 37% of adults participated in training in 2016 and this rate has hardly increased since.
That is why the ETUC’s response to the consultation calls for legislative action to:
- Increase collective bargaining as the best way to genuinely fair pay and conditions;
- Introduce a right to training during working time as part of a just transition to a green and digital economy;
- Regulate subcontracting chains and labour intermediaries;
- End Europe’s stress epidemic, including by enforcing the right to disconnect;
- Regulate algorithmic management at work based on the human in control principle;
- End precarious work through legal rights to permanent contracts and full-time employment.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“A strong Quality Jobs Act would be good for workers, good for companies and good for Europe. Mario Draghi was clear that increasing competitiveness is about raising skills, not lowering wages.
“The evidence shows that low quality jobs are holding back our economy by causing labour shortages and skills gaps. The proposals made by trade unions today would ensure Europe instead has a highly motivated and well-trained workforce.
“We also need to ensure that our laws keep up with the pace of the green and digital revolutions in our workplaces by ensuring companies proactively manage change through a just transition, and that artificial intelligence is introduced in a way that benefits workers rather than violating their rights.
“Europe can never win a race to the bottom. Our most successful countries show that the path to a strong economy is through high quality jobs, high investment and high-quality public services.”
Notes
ETUC reply to the First Stage Consultation of Social Partners on the Quality Jobs Act