EU member states have a ‘moral obligation’ to immediately enforce the ban on goods produced through forced labour which takes effect today. While members states have up to three years to implement it, the evidence from the International Labour Organisation shows there is no time to waste: - There are 28 million people in forced labour around the world, including 3.3 million children - 236 billion US dollars is the level of annual profit generated from forced labour in the world

Less than two weeks before Christmas, Belgian trade union members demonstrated today against the grinch-like austerity plans being drawn up by the country’s future government.  The demonstration in Brussels organised by all three Belgian trade unions and support by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) comes during negotiations over the programme of the next government.

Commenting on the 0.25 point cut in interest rates announced today by the European Central Bank (ECB), ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “Interest rates have been too high for too long. That has put further financial strain on workers and put jobs at risk by preventing companies from investing. 

Trade unions are calling for a moratorium on compulsory redundancies to deal with a growing jobs crisis exacerbated by Europe’s lack of an industrial policy.European trade unions gathered in Brussels this week for the ETUC Executive Committee to discuss how to protect and create quality jobs. The agenda included interventions by Commission President von der Leyen and European Council President Costa.

The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to investigate the cases of recent arrests and detentions of workers’ representatives, breaching the respect of human and fundamental rights, and jeopardising the Turkish governments’ commitments to the EU in the field.  On 26 November, police forces simultaneously raided multiple trade union premises and the homes of workers’ representatives and took eight trade unionists into custody. Remzy Çalışkan, Vice-President of Disk, is among those who were transferred to prison and face the threat of a jail sentence.

The ETUC is calling for the Council of the EU and European Parliament to reject the EU-MERCOSUR trade and investment agreement in its current form due to concerns over weak labour protections. While the deal offers new opportunities for employment creation and cooperation between Europe and South America, trade unions continue to have concerns. The lack of transparency and democratic legitimacy in these negotiations has added to those concerns.

The practice of paying people with disabilities below the legal minimum must be stopped as part of the rollout of the EU minimum wage directive. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is making the call during European Disabilities Week.

Employment ministers meeting today to discuss how to solve Europe’s labour shortages cannot continue overlooking the central role played in the problem by low pay. 

The ETUC congratulates Enrico Somaglia on his election as the new General Secretary of the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT).Speaking at EFFAT’s congress in Valencia today, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch praised outgoing General Secretary Kristjan Bragason for leading a “fighting and winning” union.

The number of workers whose lives were needlessly put at risk during the recent DANA flooding shows why Europe urgently needs to adapt working practices to climate change, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said in Valencia today. Speaking at the congress of the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) being held in the city of Valencia, Esther Lynch said “no event in recent memory showed more clearly how all workers are on the frontline of climate change.”

Following pressure from the trade union movement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed today that there will be a commissioner for quality jobs and social rights.

Commenting on the national spending plans approved today by the European Commission, ETUC Confederal Secretary

Europe’s laws are not keeping up with new and rising threats against women in the workplace, a new report shows on the international day for the elimination of violence against women. Increased digitalisation and precariousness have contributed to a rising tide of violence gender-based violence at work. But an analysis of legal frameworks shows that the existing European and national laws on gender based violence at work are yet to be adjusted to address recent developments.

The general strike taking place in Greece today shows the need for national governments to fully deliver on the minimum wage directive.A 24-hour nationwide walkout is underway to demand government action over the falling purchasing power of working people caused by low pay and skyrocketing rents and prices.The average salary for a full-time worker last year was €17,013, equivalent to levels during the peak of the debt crisis in 2014-2015.

Most European governments have failed to meet the deadline to put the minimum wage directive into national law – and some are actively working against the aims of the directive. More than 20 million people should get a pay rise if the directive is properly implemented by member states, with minimum wages which meet the cost-of-living and more workers covered by collectively bargained wages. 

On European equal pay day, trade unions are raising the alarm over attempts by business organisations to push back against pay transparency measures proven to cut gender pay inequality. The gender pay gap within companies is 17% in countries without pay transparency laws, compared to 14% for countries that have pay transparency, an analysis of OECD data by the European Trade Union Institute has found.

The following speech was delivered by Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, at the inaugural Labour International Congress in Madrid on 14 November 2024.    It is always an honour to represent the 45 million workers and their trade unions in Europe and I am very proud to do so today.  To extend the hand of friendship and solidarity from the ETUC.  

The social cost of European Commission plans to weaken rules on the posting of workers will be far higher than the small savings which would be made by businesses, trade unions are warning.The European Commission today published a proposal to create a single EU system for the declaration of posted workers, the goal of which should have been ensuring better compliance with and enforcement of rules.

European leaders have today called on the Commission to urgently deliver an industrial strategy for quality jobs as part Europe’s competitiveness push.  At a meeting in Budapest, heads of EU governments agreed a declaration for a  ‘New European Competitiveness Deal’ which states: “We invite the Commission to present, as a priority, a comprehensive industrial strategy for competitive industries and quality jobs.”

Commenting on the results of the US elections, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “The ETUC sends our full solidarity to our sisters and brothers in the AFL-CIO. No matter who is in power, coming together in our trade unions is always the best hope for working people and we will keep building solidarity between workers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The European Commission's 2024 enlargement package recognises that strengthening social dialogue, including the capacities of social partners, continues to be relevant in order to address labour market challenges in candidate countries.

Low paid workers spend at least a third of their wages on rent in most member states, new trade union research shows on the eve of the confirmation hearing of the EU’s first commissioner for housing. The average cost of rent for a property of at most two bedrooms eats up 35% or more of the pay packets of workers earning the statutory minimum wage in 14 member states. Rent accounts for half of monthly earnings for low paid workers in three countries (Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg) and, in a further eight member states it is equivalent to 40% or more.

Life is becoming increasingly difficult for working people.

This European week for safety and health at work, trade unions are calling for swift EU action to address the rising tide of burnouts and work related stress.The EU’s health and safety agency, EU OSHA, is using the week to highlight its campaign for ‘safe and healthy work in the digital age’.The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) highlights that this laudable objective won’t be achievable without the following legislative initiatives:

The majority of EU member states have still not started the process of putting the minimum wage directive into national law – just weeks before the deadline for implementation.Around 20 million workers should benefit from the directive which requires member states with statutory minimum wages to ensure they are adequate, and for all member states to promote collective bargaining.