Real wages - taking inflation into account - for workers in eight EU Member States are on average lower than they were ten years ago, according to the first figures from a European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) study, presented on Monday 25 March in a statement by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
The study, which will be published in full on 26 March, shows that the average wage in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Croatia and Cyprus is now lower than in 2009.
Among these eight Member States, Greece, Croatia and Cyprus show the largest decreases with decreases of 23%, 11% and 7% respectively, while the United Kingdom and Hungary fare best with a 1% decrease.
According to Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary, the study's figures show that “the crisis is not over in all countries and that even where there is an economic recovery, workers are not benefitting from it”.
“The EU must act urgently to raise wages, mainly by encouraging and promoting collective bargaining between employers and trade unions”, he then urged.
The ETUC has made wage convergence within the Union one of its main areas of focus, a priority highlighted in particular in its programme for the European elections (see EUROPE 12203/28). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot – intern)