It is almost a year since the European Commission under the presidency of Ursula von der Leyen took office. One of its main social projects, the proposal for fair minimum wages in the EU (c.f. article No. 11980), is due to be presented on 28 October. However the EU Commission has a broader social roadmap and, as a result of the current crisis, other topics have also become immediate (e.g. workers’ information and consultation, remote working, the right to digital disconnection). In an interview with Planet Labor on 25 September, the Employment Commissioner, Nicolas Schmit, answered questions on both these programmed and more impromptu subjects.
What are the main thrusts of the proposal on decent minimum wages?
We are in the process of finalizing the text that we will present on the 28th of October (for more on the minimum wages debate c.f. article No. 11980). The goal of this initiative is to prevent working people from being at risk of poverty. However poverty is not an all-encapsulating and we are assessing the possibility of using several indicators.
In view of the crisis and the restructuring that is taking place, what can the European Commission do to safeguard the respect for workers’ rights? Do you agree with the European trade unions that the directive establishing European Works Councils ( c.f.
Do you have information to share with us?