The European social partners (European Trade Union Confederation, BusinessEurope, CEEP, and SMEunited) co-signed a declaration on Monday 16 March urging the ministers of the Eurogroup and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) to approve "without delay" the measures proposed by the European Commission on Friday 13 March (see EUROPE 12446/1).
The social partners are making a whole series of recommendations in the wake of the Commission's measures. In particular, they call for the full "temporary" use of the flexibility provided by the Stability and Growth Pact, "including consideration of its temporary suspension through the use of the 'general escape clause'" (see EUROPE 12446/1). They want the same for the European rules on state aid.
They call for any distortion of the single market to be avoided by stemming prohibitions and restrictions on the export of medical equipment and medicines and by ending border closures for goods. In this context, they insist on safeguarding "all modes of freight transport".
As far as the Member States are concerned, they are encouraging them to strengthen the staff, equipment and resources of the national health services and support the possibility of using the Structural Funds and other European funds for this purpose (see EUROPE 12446/2). They are proposing this use in addition to guarantee financial assistance to workers (including atypical and self-employed workers) affected by short-time working and to help enterprises (especially SMEs). They are also looking to a properly coordinated intervention from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank.
No more cuts in sick pay. Last week, the European Trade Union Confederation was concerned about the impact of budget cuts in sickness benefits across Member States since 2008.
Twenty-two Member States spent less per person on sickness benefits in the 5 years after the financial crisis than in the 5 years before it, they note, with Greece (-7.2% per year) in the lead, followed by Spain (-2.3%), Cyprus (-1.9%), Ireland (-0.9%) and Italy.
For trade unions, the consequence of this phenomenon is that sick people are forced to continue working because they cannot afford to lose their income or even risk losing their jobs, which can accelerate the spread of the coronavirus.
To consult the social partners' statement: http://bit.ly/38RHJw7
For the trade union resolution on sick pay: http://bit.ly/3b16Xts (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)