S&D Euro MPs today join the call around the world for decent work and better working conditions.

Millions of Europeans are struggling in precarious, short-term jobs without clear prospects. For example, according to numbers published by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), in 2013, 61.7% of part-time workers in Europe wanted permanent employment, but could not find it.

S&D Group vice-president responsible for economic and social affairs, Maria João Rodrigues said:

"After a long economic crisis, job creation still remains slow and many companies take a short-sighted view, preferring cheap and flexible labour instead of investing in their workers. But innovation and high productivity are achieved by well-skilled, well-equipped and motivated workers, not those who permanently need to worry about what they will do next month.

"Technology brings tremendous opportunities, but it can also deepen inequalities in the labour market. We need governments, business and trade unions to work together in an enlightened way, to make sure that the economy of the future benefits everyone. Europeans don't want to go back to the middle ages!"

S&D Group spokesperson for employment and social affairs, Jutta Steinruck stated:

"Effective poverty reduction begins with the creation of quality and long-term jobs. More and more people cannot make a living from their work.

"In many sectors, large-scale exploitation takes place under the guise of labour market flexibility. Whether posted construction workers or lorry drivers who work for a pittance with no social protection; companies whose core workforce consists of temporary workers or dependent contractors; pilots who, like many other professional groups, are forced into bogus self-employment; or graduates who shimmy from one unpaid internship to the next - the list goes on almost indefinitely.

"Therefore, the European Socialists have been demanding uniform and Europe-wide labour inspections in order to combat exploitation effectively."

Since 2008, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has been organizing the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW). On the 7th of October, workers all over the world come together to call for decent work and better working conditions.