The European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, sought to reassure MEPs on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on Tuesday 26 May by ensuring that the Commission’s social agenda continues to advance despite the Covid-19 crisis.
Thus, on the initiative to guarantee fair minimum wages (see EUROPE 12403/5), the Commissioner assured that he would begin the second phase of consultation with social partners as early as next week, on 3 June to be precise, according to the items on the agenda of the College of the European Commission. As such, the Commissioner said that a minimum wage of 60% of the national median wage should not be ruled out.
In addition, the Commissioner shared MEPs’ view that young people are a segment of the population particularly affected by unemployment caused by the pandemic and assured the imminent presentation of the reinforcement of the Youth Guarantee, normally scheduled for 24 June. In the same vein, the Commissioner announced the introduction of a Children’s Guarantee next year.
He also announced a major conference for all stakeholders on homelessness. The aim is to encourage Member States to be more active in this area, he told MEPs, who are calling for stronger European action in the field (see EUROPE 12403/17).
Unanswered questions
Asked by Krzysztof Hetman (EPP, Poland) whether a second wave of the outbreak could be included in the European recovery plan, the Commissioner sidelined the issue, insisting that it was still best to avoid a new wave.
Several MEPs have suggested European initiatives to smooth out the adverse consequences of Covid-19. Jordi Cañas (Renew Europe, Spain) thus suggested creating a European charter to protect older citizens, as well as a European framework to regulate telework.
Eugenia Rodríguez Palop (GUE/NGL, Spain), for her part, proposed the adoption of a European pact for sustainable employment and a European initiative to guarantee a decent minimum income, an initiative led by her country in particular (see EUROPE 12484/30). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)