Commenting on BusinessEurope’s ill-founded criticisms of the forthcoming European Pillar of Social Rights, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said
“We strongly support the initiative of the Commission to give workers an improved right to paid parental leave.
"We do not accept that it undermines negotiations between social partners. In fact BusinessEurope refused to negotiate on parental leave or any other aspect of the Work-Life-Balance package. Now the train has left the station they can hardly complain that they are not onboard.
“I am shocked they claim parental rights will undermine job creation.
“Not improving living and working standards in Europe will be far more divisive than introducing this long-overdue improvement to parental leave and the other social rights expected.
“Now is probably the EU’s last chance to create a more social Europe, and the EU cannot afford to miss it. Business Europe’s position on the Parental Leave Directive is simply an excuse to kill the whole Pillar of Social Rights initiative and Social Dialogue itself.
“We call on the Commission to have courage and see this through. A strong and ambitious Pillar of Social Rights, and a sound initiative in it to improve Work-life Balance, is the absolute minimum Europe needs alongside more investment and a pay rise for all workers.”
