31/03/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called on banks and large companies to suspend dividend payments and share buybacks in a statement issued on Tuesday 31 March. According to trade unions, a record €359 billion in dividends is expected to be paid out this year, an increase of €12 billion over the previous year. But, in the age of the COVID-19 epidemic, ETUC believes that big business must put the interests and the economy of its workers above those of its shareholders by using the money available to protect jobs and wages. And to remind them of the billions of euros of public money they receive to deal with the crisis. The unions also suggest increasing taxation on “unjustifiable dividends”. (PH)