About: European pillar of social rights
Workers should not bear sole responsibility for re-skilling, say unions
The EU Commission is proposing individual learning accounts to equip Europeans with the necessary skills for the coming transitions. Some workers’ representatives, however, fear that this might leave workers with the brunt of the responsibility.
Pandemic ‘pressure cooker’ has accelerated changes at work
The Covid–19 pandemic has created a “pressure cooker” that has accelerated the process of changes at work and challenged concepts of social protection, EU officials and stakeholders said at a recent event hosted by EURACTIV.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Back from Porto – making the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights a reality
The Porto Social Summit has set new ambitious employment and social targets for the European Union. Ambitious but achievable, especially if the EU and its Member States set an enabling environment for the private employment services industry to contribute, writes...
EU leaders to give strong backing to new social targets at Porto summit
The 27 heads of EU national governments will commit to “closely following” progress towards new jobs, skills and poverty reduction targets and will be open to adding new indicators to the GDP to measure national progress, according to the latest draft of the Porto social summit declaration seen by EURACTIV.
Transition of cities – an opportunity for people and planet
Mayors and city leaders can play a double role in the green transition – as ambassadors for the European green deal locally, and as representatives of people’s concerns and interests to other levels of government, writes Dario Nardella
Building a real social safety net for construction workers in the EU
Every year, thousands of workers are misled and abused in all kinds of shady working deals. In most cases, these workers are not recruited by a regular construction company but by a so-called intermediary company. A lucrative business model in...
Worker advocates call for more ‘democracy at work’ ahead of Porto Summit
Trade unions and other labour supporters are continuing their push for greater worker involvement in company decisions, now labelling this as an effort for “more democracy at work.” They want to see this topic play a larger role on the...
EU Commission vies to protect future for platform workers
The European Commission will attempt to protect the future of platform workers in the EU by setting minimum standards and potentially enforcing pension entitlements and insurance obligations.
EU unemployment reinsurance scheme falls off Commission’s radar
An EU reinsurance scheme to support national unemployment benefits was not part of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan presented on Thursday (4 March), although the European Commission has been supportive of the idea.
Portuguese presidency wants to strengthen trust in EU social model
Portugal will place Europe’s social model at the heart of its semester at the EU helm next year, giving a fresh push to the social agenda at a summit to take place in Porto in May, according to an official document seen by EURACTIV.
European Vocational Skills Week: jobs for the future through VET
Today, the green and digital transitions are reshaping our way of life, work and interactions – and the COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically accelerated most of these changes. Nicolas Schmit is the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. The impact...
Commission to give fresh push to social pillar in COVID times
The European Commission’s action plan to implement the EU Social Pillar will aim to bolster the protection of social rights following the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, a Commission official has said.
Protecting an evolving workforce: The case for agile protection
Deepening the EU data economy and investments in AI are top priorities on the agenda of the von der Leyen Commission. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the digital transformation in all sectors is speeding up, intensifying our reliance on software, data and AI.
For a European Semester that addresses inequalities
The European Semester will play a key role in the implementation of the National Recovery Plans, to be submitted by mid-October. The reform of the Semester process was already in the pipeline but it is now essential to raise expectations and transform this coordination tool into a useful instrument able to grasp the changes affecting vital aspects of our daily life: health, education and work, writes Maria João Rodrigues and others.
Commissioner Schmit: The future of Europe is not low wages, insecure jobs
The EU is facing the worst recession in history as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. To ensure that the crisis does not turn into a social emergency, the bloc must address issues like job security, minimum wages, or youth opportunities, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Nicolas Schmit: ‘The first dignity of work is to pay people a fair wage’
Nicolas Schmit will have a busy 2020. The EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights outlined on Tuesday (14 January) a comprehensive agenda to beef up the EU’s social policies. He discussed the details in an interview with EURACTIV.
Schmit to unveil EU minimum wage proposal in January
Nicolas Schmit announced on Tuesday (10 December) that he will unveil his proposal for an EU minimum wage framework in early January, following his first Council meeting as a member of the new European Commission.
In-work-poverty increasing in spite of economic growth, study reveals
Social inequalities, including in-work-poverty, have increased in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, according to the findings of a study released by SOLIDAR, published on Wednesday (13 November).
Make the digital transition fair as well, experts warn
The world of work is changing dramatically as a consequence of the digital transformation, while the social protection systems are often not added to the new realities of the labour market, experts warned during an event hosted by EURACTIV.
Trade unionist: Von der Leyen has to deliver on Social Europe ‘if she wants to gain trust’
The Workers Group of the Economic and Social Committee welcomes European Commission president-elect Ursula Von der Leyen’s announcements on social policy but if she wants to be trusted, she needs to deliver, president Olivier Röpke told EURACTIV.
Von der Leyen spells out concessions to Parliament ahead of crunch vote
Putting carbon neutrality into law during first 100 days, a new “Just Transition Fund” or the nomination of two executive vice-presidents are some of the concessions listed by European Commission President nominee Ursula von der Leyen, according to the letters seen by Euractiv.
Digitalisation is a threat as much as an opportunity for workers, experts say
While digitalisation offers more flexible forms of work, it can also be a threat to well-being and encroach on work-life balance, policymakers warned during an event organised by EURACTIV.
EU election 2019: What next for Social Europe?
In November 2017, the European Commission launched the European Pillar of Social Rights, which resulted in 25 legislative initiatives. Ahead of the EU elections this week, EURACTIV looks at what the main political parties have on offer for social Europe.