Member states seek compromise on rights for cross-border workers
Split over strengthening the posting-of-workers directive.
European Union employment ministers meeting on Monday (9 December) will return to the controversial question of balancing high-protection welfare states with EU rules that allow companies to post workers from one member state to another.
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At their last meeting, in October, employment ministers were unable to reach a compromise on a 2012 proposal by the European Commission to strengthen the 1996 posting-of-workers directive, which requires posted workers to receive certain core social rights.
There is too much flexibility in the Commission’s proposal for some member states, including France, Belgium and Italy. It sets out a limited list of actions that a host member state can take to ensure those rights are being granted. They fear that companies can undermine national welfare and labour rules by hiring workers from low-protection member states – so-called social dumping. But another group of member states – including the United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary and Ireland – support the Commission’s ‘closed list’, and suspect host member states of wanting to clamp down on posted workers in order to protect domestic workers from competition.
On 29 November, officials from the member states were unable to agree on a proposal by Lithuania, which holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers, that would have given member states greater flexibility to check that EU rules are being respected, subject to the Commission’s oversight.
MEPs have already agreed their position. The committee on employment and social affairs backed the Commission proposal in June, with amendments that would oblige member states to undertake minimum standards.
Non-executives
Employment ministers will also be updated on the negotiations on increasing the number of women who are non-executive directors in listed companies. A large group of member states, including the UK, Germany and Sweden, oppose the proposal.
Last week, officials from those countries rejected a compromise proposed by France and Italy that would have given companies six extra years, or until 2026, to achieve targets requiring 40% of non-executive board members and 33% of executive board members to be women.
However, Germany’s position may change, given that increasing the number of women on the boards of German companies is part of the governing parties’ coalition agreement, finalised last week.
On Tuesday, health ministers will exchange views on a Commission proposal on regulating medical devices.