The European Commission’s proposal for a directive on adequate fair minimum wages has sparked controversy among member states and social partners alike across Europe. The proposal develops the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, aiming to improve the working and living conditions of millions of workers in the EU.
Today one in five Europeans are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while 10% of workers are considered working poor.
Europe needs to make sure that workers benefit from adequate minimum wages, that poverty wages end and that wage setting systems through collective bargaining are strengthened again after years of stagnation and decline.
#EUMinimumWages Webinar
On 21 May, we will discuss the issue of the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, with Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, EP rapporteurs on Adequate Minimum Wages Agnes Jongerius & Dennis Radtke, Workers’ Group President Oliver Röpke, and EESC member and co-rapporteur of the opinion on the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive Cinzia Del Rio. The webinar will be moderated by journalist Jacki Davis.
Join the conversation online at the EESC Twitter https://twitter.com/EU_EESC and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanEconomicAndSocialCommittee
on 21 May at 10.00 am CET to hear from our speakers, and take part! Comment on social media under the video and our moderator will bring the questions to the speakers.
Commission makes it clear! “We are not promising the same EU minimum wage for all Europeans”
Adequate, fair minimum wages for workers across Member States
President von der Leyen promised to present a legal instrument to ensure that the workers in our Union have a fair minimum wage at the start of her mandate and repeated her pledge in her first State of the Union address on 16 September 2020.
The right to adequate minimum wages is in Principle 6 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council on behalf of all Member States, and the European Commission in Gothenburg in November 2017.
Today’s proposal for a Directive is based on Article 153 (1) (b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) on working conditions. It follows a two-stage consultation of social partners carried out in accordance with Article 154 TFEU. The Commission’s proposal will now go to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Once adopted, Member States will have two years have to transpose the Directive into national law.
A framework for minimum wages in full respect of national competences and traditions
Minimum wages exist in all EU Member States. 21 countries have statutory minimum wages and in 6 Member States (Denmark, Italy, Cyprus, Austria, Finland and Sweden) minimum wage protection is provided exclusively by collective agreements. Yet, in the majority of Member States, workers are affected by insufficient adequacy and/or gaps in the coverage of minimum wage protection. In light of this, the proposed Directive creates a framework to improve the adequacy of minimum wages and for access of workers to minimum wage protection in the EU.
The Commission’s proposal fully respects the subsidiary principle: it sets a framework for minimum standards, respecting and reflecting Member States’ competences and social partners’ autonomy and contractual freedom in the field of wages. It does not oblige Member States to introduce statutory minimum wages, nor does it set a common minimum wage level.
Collective bargaining on wages in all Member States
Countries with high collective bargaining coverage tend to have a lower share of low-wage workers, lower wage inequality and higher minimum wages. Therefore, the Commission proposal aims at promoting collective bargaining on wages in all Member States.
Countries with statutory minimum wages should put in place the conditions for minimum wages to be set at adequate levels. These conditions include clear and stable criteria for minimum wage setting, indicative reference values to guide the assessment of adequacy and regular and timely updates of minimum wages. These Member States are also asked to ensure the proportionate and justified use of minimum wage variations and deductions and the effective involvement of social partners in statutory minimum wage setting and updating.
MEPs: Minimum wage is a remedy for inequality and in-work poverty
Finally, the proposal provides for improved enforcement and monitoring of the minimum wage protection established in each country. Compliance and effective enforcement is essential for workers to benefit from actual access to minimum wage protection, and for businesses to be protected against unfair competition. The proposed Directive introduces annual reporting by Member States on its minimum wage protection data to the Commission.
