National delegations will meet for the last time, on Tuesday 9 November, to discuss a new compromise proposed by the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council on the Minimum Wage Directive.
The new proposal endorses the general relaxation of the text negotiated by the Member States (see EUROPE 12818/14), clarifying, for example, that the 70% collective bargaining coverage rate set by the European Commission is only indicative and not a target in itself.
The latest version amends the definition of coverage (Article 1), clarifying the way the ratio is calculated by including the number of workers covered by collective agreements, including those that do not cover wages.
The Presidency also modifies the monitoring and data collection arrangements (Article 10), in particular for minimum wages set by collective agreements by focusing them, inter alia, on the lowest regular rates of pay set by collective agreements covering low pay.
Furthermore, the new compromise clearly requires Member States to present an action plan on the implementation of the Directive, notably in relation to the coverage rate of collective agreements.
The text will be presented to the Committee of Permanent Representatives at the end of November. A general approach is expected for the December Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the EU.
In the European Parliament, MEPs will vote on their report on Thursday 11 November (see EUROPE 12826/13).
To consult the new Presidency proposal: https://bit.ly/2YwY0rq (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)