Brussels, 02/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Workers in the air transport sector are calling on the EU to protect them against the increasing threat of social dumping in the European aviation sector. The European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) has claimed that the arrival of low-cost companies has brought with it such practices, as is borne out by a study presented at a conference in Catania, Italy, on Tuesday 1 July, on developments in the labour market in the aviation sector.
The president of the ETF's aviation section, Enrique Carmona, says that, due to the increase in atypical kinds working conditions, such as agency work, zero-hour contracts and self-employment, “the already overwhelming flexibility of work and trend for social dumping in aviation are racketing”. The ETF is very unhappy with the new business models that have been developed to try to avoid social and labour regulation. The ETF had already sounded the alarm on Norwegian Air and its intention to base itself in Ireland so that it can recruit European personnel on Singaporean contracts, in an effort to ensure low-cost flights to the US. Faced with this example of a “flag of convenience”, the ETF is exerting pressure so that authorisation for flights to the US is not granted (see EUROPE 11107).
The union has also highlighted the risks to aviation safety that indirect employment could have because it undermines the culture of safety and responsibility, as well as respect for appropriate procedures. The unions are therefore calling on the European institutions to review Community legislation to reverse this trend and mitigate the effects of social dumping and flags of convenience. (MD)