The European Commission and European Parliament will be investigating working conditions at the McDonald’s restaurant chain, following a number of petitions submitted by British, Belgian and French unions.
These petitions contain a total number 31,000 signatures and were submitted to Parliament with the aim of drawing attention to a possible violation of EU law. According to the unions, European legislation on working conditions and the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights have not been respected in McDonald’s restaurant chains in the United Kingdom, Belgium and France.
During a hearing held on Tuesday 29 November at the Parliament, the European Commission expressed its wish to investigate the so-called widespread use of “zero hours contracts” in the United Kingdom which are known as “flexi-jobs” in Belgium, according to a press release from the S&D group. Parliament's Petitions Committee has decided to question the member states involved, as well as the restaurant chain and has requested explanations in this regard. It is also committed to examining the possibility of opening an enquiry into precarious employment contracts in the EU. (Original version in French by Jan Kordys)