Published on Thursday 27 June, the European Committee of Social Rights’ “ 2023 Report” notes positive developments in the implementation of the Council of Europe’s European Social Charter, but identifies a number of shortcomings.
Among the progress made, the Committee cites the protection of children and young people from cyber-threats and the improvement of labour regulations.
On the other hand, it points out the loopholes that remain when it comes to the rights of migrant workers, the homeless, protection against dismissal during pregnancy, and so on.
The report also examines the follow-up to collective complaints lodged with the Committee by NGOs or trade unions. There were 14 in 2023. They concern Spain, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
There are complaints about the gender pay gap, housing for the Roma, and discrimination in healthcare and inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities.
The publication of this report comes just under a week before the high-level conference on the European Social Charter, which is scheduled to take place in Vilnius on 4 July.
It should enable the State parties to make additional commitments in favour of social rights, the crucial importance of which was reaffirmed at the Reykjavik Summit in May 2023.
In Vilnius, the aim will be to “advance the collective, cross-European pursuit of social justice”, says Aoife Nolan, President of the European Committee of Social Rights.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/cv8 (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)