Tag: labour standards

According to a recent report, a striking gap in working time continues to exist between countries that joined the EU after 2004 and the other 15 members. Among those working longer hours, Bulgaria, Romania and the UK are well ahead of their European neighbours.

The Council has approved Commission proposals aimed at reinforcing welfare protection, equal opportunities and social dialogue at home and abroad.

A staged court session adjourned on 23 November after a split jury failed either to acquit or to condemn EU trade policy against accusations that it exacerbates poverty in the third world and contributes to the destruction of the environment.

In a letter to Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the draft Green Paper on modernisation of labour law, business association UNICE accused the commission of "an implicit agenda of harmonisation of labour law" throughout the EU. EurActiv talked to Thérèse de Liedekerke, director for social affairs with UNICE, on the association's criticism of the commission draft. 

In reaction to a critical letter from the European business lobby, the Commission has delayed the publication of a Green Paper on European Labour law until at least November 2006.