Brussels, 31/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Finland is preventing migrant workers from receiving unemployment benefits and Italy is making its doctors work too many hours. The Commission decided, therefore, on Thursday 30 May, to move up a gear in infringement proceedings initiated against these member states by sending them both a reasoned opinion.
Finland. The Finnish authorities do not take into account the periods of insurance, residence or employment by migrant workers in other member states when calculating periods of activity in Finland with a view to granting unemployment benefits. This runs counter to EU law on the coordination of social security systems (Regulation No 883/2004).
Italy. Italian doctors in the public sector are working too much or at least for too many hours. Some of the provisions of the Italian legislation thus deprive workers in the national healthcare service to their right of minimum daily or weekly rest periods, as stipulated in the working hour directive (Directive 2003/88/EC). (JK/transl.Jl)