MEPs in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on Thursday 11 November backed (by 37 votes to 10 with 7 abstentions) the text defended by Dennis Radtke (EPP, Germany) and Agnes Jongerius (S&D, Netherlands), which significantly strengthens the provisions set out by the European Commission in the framework of the directive on minimum wages.
The German co-rapporteur soberly welcomed “a special moment today in the EMPL committee” on his Twitter account. “A huge step forward”, his Dutch counterpart told the press conference. The vote was welcomed by Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit on his Twitter account.
On the other hand, the text caused a real storm among the Nordic MEPs. “Dark night for Swedish wage setting. The European Parliament’s employment committee has now voted in favour of an EU minimum wage”, commented Abir Al-Sahlani MEP(Renew Europe, Sweden) on her Twitter account.
A text with wider aims
All the compromise amendments detailed in our issue (see EUROPE 12830/25) were adopted. For example, MEPs supported the extension of collective bargaining coverage to 80% (the co-rapporteurs had proposed 90%) and deleted the article that allowed deductions to be made from the minimum wage, although this did not mean that such provisions were banned.
They put in the body of the legislation the international criteria for calculating wage adequacy, namely 60% of the national median wage and 50% of the national average wage. However, this is a possibility and not an obligation (‘Member States may use indicative reference’). They introduced the concept of ‘threshold of decency’, changed the measurement criteria and also specified the criterion related to purchasing power and introduced the concept of ‘in-work poverty’. They also removed the criterion of worker productivity.
Furthermore, MEPs have safeguarded national competences right from Article 1 by clarifying the various types of minimum wages (a statutory minimum wage, access to wage setting through collective bargaining, universal collective agreements).
They are stepping up the fight against any form of discrimination against unionised workers, and any action against collective bargaining. In this context, they replaced the term chosen by the European Commission, ‘worker’s organisation’, with the term ‘trade union’. The aim is to avoid the creation of “yellow unions”, employee organisations set up by employers to undermine collective bargaining.
MEPs also call for a strengthening of labour inspectorates and an intensification of controls, with appropriate resources for the latter. They also demand that public authorities, when awarding public procurement, ensure that the selected economic operators and their subcontractors recognise the role of trade unions, but also the rights of workers and engage in collective bargaining.
Opposition from Swedish and Danish MEPs was massive and cross-party, ranging from the radical left to the far right, including the Greens/EFA and the EPP. Abstaining were mainly Central and Eastern European MEPs from the ECR and Renew Europe groups.
The text and the mandate for inter-institutional negotiations are expected to be submitted to the European Parliament on the first day of the next plenary session and are likely to be challenged by many MEPs, as MEP Al-Sahlani posted on her Twitter account. “That is why I am now - together with other Nordic colleagues - gathering names to reach the 71 members needed to ensure that the plenum can vote on the issue” she said.
On the EU Council side, a new compromise by the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council is expected to be presented to national delegations on Wednesday 17 November, which should be submitted for approval to the Committee of Permanent Representatives I on Wednesday 24 November. The ambitions of the Member States are, as it stands, largely below those of the European Parliament, with a general softening of the text (see EUROPE 12828/11).
To see the European Parliament’s compromise amendments: https://bit.ly/3kqIXHl
For the latest compromise from the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council: https://bit.ly/2YwY0rq (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)