Time is running short to deliver for Europe’s 28 million platform workers before the end of this mandate. This was the stark warning as government ministers responsible for employment and social affairs met to discuss the ongoing negotiations on a new EU directive proposed by Europe’s socialists. The message was clear: our political family is mobilising strongly around this issue.
Ministers from Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Romania and Slovenia convened in Brussels, Belgium, this morning to discuss common priorities ahead of today’s EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO).
Meeting Chair and Portuguese Minister for Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, said:
“Time in this mandate is running short to deliver for platform workers. As a workforce, they are among the worst paid. They enjoy the lowest protections. And they are among the most vulnerable to exploitation. Yet conservatives and liberals remain politically opposed to changing that.
“In Europe, we can boast some of the best workers’ rights anywhere in the world. But platform work still exists in a regulatory grey zone. This denies platform workers the rights they are entitled to. That is wrong. That’s why we have pushed for a strong EU directive on improving working conditions in platform work. Not just any directive, but one that really transforms conditions.
“Time is running out for the directive. But it is the quality of life of Europe’s 28 million platform workers that is a stake. We will keep fighting for them because they deserve better.”
The PES is focused on achieving a strong EU Directive on improving working conditions in platform work by the end of this mandate. The directive was proposed by European Commissioner for Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. In the Council, it is PES ministers that pushes it forward, and in the European Parliament, it is S&D MEP Elisabetta Gualmini, who spearheads the legislation.
Although some progress has been achieved in previous negotiations – notably on data protection and algorithmic management – ministers noted that crucial issues remain to be solved ahead of the next trilogue tomorrow for an ambitious Directive that effectively protects platform workers.
Ministers also continued discussion on the economic governance review. They emphasised that the EU must avoid any attempt to backslide towards austerity. For this reason, the meeting welcomed the Belgian and Spanish proposal of a Social Convergence Framework. Thanks to the commitment of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, progressive were able to make this new tool for social progress a reality; they also insisted on the need for the EU to secure a larger scope for increased social investment and to better reflect the European Pillar of Social Rights in the future economic governance framework.
The meeting also further discussed other PES priorities, including the European Social partners negotiations on telework and the right to disconnect. PES noted with worry that Social Dialogue failed to deliver on this important topic and underlined the importance of a well-functioning European Social Dialogue as one of the cornerstones of the European Social Model.
The meeting was attended by:
- Ana Mendes Godinho, Chair and Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Portugal
- Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, European Commission
- Frank Vandenbroucke, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Belgium
- Rolf Schmachtenberg, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
- Simona Bucura-Oprescu, Minister for Labour and Social Solidarity Protection, Romania
- Luka Mesec, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Slovenia (Observer)
- Pedro Marques, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Vice-President, PES-S&D Coordinator on the implementation of the progressive Commission work programme, S&D
- Agnes Jongerius, EMPL Coordinator, Member of the European Parliament, S&D
- Gaby Bischoff, S&D Vice-President, Member of European Parliament
- Esther Lynch, General Secretary, ETUC
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary General, PES
