12/07/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 12 July, the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) approved the agreement reached on 7 June with the EU Council on the directive on adequate minimum wages (see EUROPE 12966/12) by 34 votes to 8 with 2 abstentions. For co-rapporteurs Dennis Radtke (EPP, Germany) and Agnes Jongerius (S&D, Netherlands), this vote marks a “historic turning point” for workers, who will be able to rely on collective bargaining to demand pay rises. The directive extends the coverage of workers through collective bargaining, defends the ability of trade unions to negotiate better minimum wages, and requires Member States with minimum wages to take account of the cost of living when setting the level of the minimum wage. The European Parliament will confirm this vote in September in plenary. Link to the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/2lc (SP)