European Parliament Committee backs EU-wide wage legislation

Article summary

The Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has, by 37 votes to 10, supported the introduction of a new EU directive to guarantee a minimum level of wage protection across the EU, either through the creation of a statutory minimum wage or through allowing workers to collectively bargain with their employees regarding their wages. The draft directive would require Member States to assess and report on the adequacy of their statutory minimum wages in the context of the purchasing power it affords workers and the poverty rate. It also aims to strengthen the coverage of collective bargaining power in Member States in which collective bargaining is available to less than 80% of the workforce, forbidding attempts to undermine collective agreements and to prevent workers from joining a trade union. The draft-negotiating mandate is expected to be endorsed by plenary during the 22–25 November 2021 session, before negotiations with the Council of the European Union regarding the...