The Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) wants to soften the link between the guidelines for Member States' employment policies and the Stability and Growth Pact, in a legislative resolution proposed by José Gusmão (GUE/NGL, Portugal) and adopted on Wednesday 24 June.
They insist that the activation of the general derogation clause of the Stability Pact, decided during the Covid-19 pandemic, be maintained throughout the period of the pandemic. In addition, MEPs call on Member States to ensure that the role of the social partners and social dialogue is respected and strengthened and that trade union and employer organisation is "densified".
Furthermore, taking into account the impact of Covid-19, MEPs call for the European Social Fund+ and structural and investment funds to be used to increase investment in public services, particularly in the fields of education, health and housing. In addition, taxation of labour must be carried out, according to the MEPs, in such a way that it is aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Deal.
Lastly, MEPs call on Member States to ensure that financial assistance under the SURE instrument is provided only to companies that respect collective agreements and refrain from paying dividends to shareholders and bonuses to managers. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)