After months of work and negotiations, Guillaume Balas' initiative report on the fight against social dumping in the European Union was adopted today with a large majority in the European Parliament.
S&D MEP Guillaume Balas welcomed the decision:
"This vote represents real progress towards a socially cohesive Europe, an essential bulwark against market deregulation, which pits workers and nations against each other.
"This result was achieved thanks to the support of the majority of progressive MEPs, in particular across the left working together. The Parliament has spoken on behalf of European citizens and confirmed its commitment to social progress. We now call on the Commission and heads of state to make every effort to make it a reality."
S&D Group spokesperson on employment and social affairs Jutta Steinruck added:
"Today we have won an important battle to protect workers from all over Europe against the exploitation, discrimination and abuse they suffer at the hands of unscrupulous companies and due to the lack of adequate labour legislation at a European level. Today we have told the European Commission and the EU member states it is time to act and put an end to social dumping.
"The S&Ds are the leading voice in the European Parliament insisting on action to ensure every worker in the European Union can have access to decent work with living wages. Now it is up to the Commission and the member states to deliver. This report shows our engagement in fighting against social dumping practices and to ensure that all workers in Europe enjoy high levels of social protection and rights.
The specific proposals adopted by the European Parliament include:
• an end to so-called 'letter-box companies' by ensuring that businesses registered in EU member states really are active there.
• a blacklist of companies – including 'letter-box companies' – who have committed serious violations of social legislation on working practices.
• Access to public procurement, public subsidies and EU funding should be suspended for a statutory period.
• a European road transport agency to take charge of checking rules are respected.
• a minimum wage set at 60% of the national average wage in EU member states.
• the extension of joint and several liability in sub-contracting chains.
• the option for the relevant authorities to suspend the provision of services in case of serious violations of the legislation on the posting of workers.
• a European register for secondment declarations to allow consultation and co-ordination between member states.
• the Commission should assess the impact of the differences between social contributions from employers and employees across the EU member states.
• combatting fake self-employment using measures linked to the recommendations in the ILO convention.
• consideration of the new proposal to revise the directive on the posting of workers.
