The MEPs of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), while welcoming the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, stated that they wanted to go further than the European Commission on many aspects, during a debate with the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, on Thursday 4 March.
After a detailed presentation of the Action Plan (see EUROPE 12671/2) by the Commissioner, most MEPs, both coordinators and other members, at best put forward a series of improvements, at worst expressed deep frustration. The issue of digital platforms and working conditions was particularly recurrent.
On the side of the committee coordinators, the German Dennis Radtke (EPP) wanted to introduce measurable indicators for the minimum wage as part of the Action Plan. Dutch MEP Agnes Jongerius (S&D) called for a higher level of ambition in the fight against poverty. On the safety and health front, the Dutch MEP stressed the need to aim for zero accidents in the workplace by 2030. “It’s time to get the social rights bazooka out”, she said.
The Romanian Dragoș Pîslaru (Renew Europe) suggested more legislative action. He expressed his wish to engage the European Parliament in the ‘Youth Guarantee’ and to see a legislative proposal on the issue. For digitisation, he wants to go further as well.
Sara Matthieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium), for her part, regretted the lack of ambition on poverty reduction and equal pay, especially between women and men. With regard to worker protection, she stressed the importance of carcinogenic medical substances. On The Left side, Ôzlem Demirel (Germany) pointed out the lack of a social objective within the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Unsurprisingly, Poland’s Beata Szydło (ECR) and France Jamet (ID, France) expressed strong reticence, the former demanding respect for the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality, the latter calling for the nations to be protected from the European Commission and its globalist project.
Among other MEPs, some have called for more attention to be paid to people with disabilities, while others on the far right want to fight against low-skilled newcomers who, they say, are driving down employment conditions. MEP Kim van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) wants targets for improving the conditions of the homeless.
Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (ECR, Spain) deplored the slowness in getting the funds to the beneficiaries, without mentioning any particular fund. Leïla Chaibi (The Left, France) deplored the fact that the Commission only provides recommendations for the minimum income, instead of a directive. She renewed her appeal to the Commissioner, but also to her colleagues to declare a social emergency as well as a climate emergency.
Commissioner Schmit reiterated the content of the Action Plan, but also made some personal comments, notably on health and safety at work. He agreed with Ms Jongerius’ vision of ‘zero accidents’. Furthermore, he expressed his wish to move faster on the revision procedures, which sometimes last “years”, without saying more. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)
*article modified on 08.03.2021