Employment

The ETUC’s objective is full employment in Europe and quality jobs for all. We oppose precarious contracts and undeclared work, bogus self-employment and abusive employment practices. Instead, we fight and negotiate for secure employment contracts, good working conditions and respect for workers’ rights, in both private and public sectors. Decent pay – best achieved through collective bargaining by strong trade unions – remains the best route to ending in-work poverty. The ETUC is particularly active in demanding equal pay for women, and an end to unpaid internships and poverty wages for young people.

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  • 01.06.2022 Page

    The right to change lanes

    Danish trade unions are urging the government to adopt a strategy that would give more people the right to switch professional direction throughout their careers. According to the Danish Trade Union Confederation (FH), fewer Danes now continue their education while in the labour market than before, even though the retirement age is rising. To reverse the decline in lifelong learning, the FH proposes a “right to change lanes” for anyone who has been in employment for a number of years - for example, workers between the ages of 45 and 60.
  • 10.03.2022 Press release

    ETUC: EU initiatives needed from Versailles on war, energy prices & jobs

    Source: Europe2022.fr/Presidence française de l'UE
    Commenting ahead of the Versailles meeting of EU leaders today, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC said “What is most urgently needed now are initiatives to stop the war and relieve the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and emergency measures to reduce energy prices and to protect jobs and businesses.
  • 23.02.2022 Press release

    ETUC on forced labour products ban and decent work world-wide

    Cover
    Today the European Commission restated its commitment to decent work worldwide, to abolition of child labour and forced labour, set out the various already-existing tools that could be used to achieve it, and proposed an ‘instrument’ to ban products in EU made from forced labour. Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said “The EU must adopt a ban on products from forced labour. To fail to do so now would be a disgrace.
  • 08.03.2021 Page

    Jobs saved in French aviation industry

    Trade unions in France have taken action to preserve hundreds of jobs in the struggling aviation industry since 2020. CFE-CGC, CFTC and FO, the three trade unions represented at the Airbus aerospace group’s helicopter production subsidiary, have concluded several agreements aimed at safeguarding the future of its two French sites.
  • 08.03.2021 Page

    Union saves hundreds of jobs in north of England

    Unite the union and the management of the Rolls-Royce factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, have agreed on a plan to save the plant and 350 jobs that are vital to the local community.
  • 28.01.2021 Document

    Ageing society is about future of work as much as pensions and care  

    The ETUC welcomes the launch of a consultation, and debate, on responding to the impacts of an ageing society. ETUC Confederal Secretary Liina Carr said “Ageing is not just a cost. Longer lives are a benefit and should be valued for the greater knowledge, experience and the potential benefits for family and community life.”
  • 30.10.2020 Press release

    EU unemployment would double without job support schemes

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    EU unemployment could almost double to 30 million without an extension of EU and national COVID emergency job support measures, new ETUC research has found.  There are currently 15.9 million people unemployed in the EU, a number which has increased by 2 million since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in March.
  • 01.10.2020 Press release

    Unemployment risks going from unacceptable to catastrophic

    Luca Visentini & trade unions leaders march for a fairer Europe for workers
    The European Trade Union Confederation is calling on national governments to maintain emergency job protection measures as EU unemployment rose for the sixth month in a row. According to Eurostat official figures published today, 238,000 more people became permanently unemployed between July and August. That means the number of permanent job losses since lockdown began in March is over 1.7 million, taking total EU unemployment to 15.6 million. The overall unemployment rate has increased from 6.4% to 7.4% since March, and from 14.5% to 17.6% among young people.
  • 23.07.2020 Press release

    Unions back MEPs demanding EU budget & recovery plan improvements 

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    Commenting on the European Parliament’s resolution, adopted today, on the EU Recovery Plan and EU budget which will lead to tough negotiations between the EU institutions, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The European Parliament is right to attack the European Council’s proposed cuts to the EU budgets for solvency support, health and the Just Transition Fund. Trade unions strongly support MEPs in demanding these budgets are restored, and to stand firm against the pressure they will come under from national governments.
  • 21.07.2020 Press release

    EU Recovery Plan good news for 60 million at risk of unemployment

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    Reacting to the adoption of the EU Recovery Plan by the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “The adoption of the EU Recovery Plan is good news for the 60 million people across the EU who depend on rapid investment to save their jobs or avoid long term unemployment. The ETUC thanks Presidents Michel and von der Leyen, and the more forward-looking leaders, for their perseverance in reaching an agreement in the most difficult EU negotiations ever.
  • 17.06.2020 Circular

    For Information : ETUC position on the proposal for revision of the Employment guidelines

    To: Members of the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Brussels, June 17th 2020 Dear members of the Employment Committee, As the Committee is working on its report on the European Commission’s proposal on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, please find attached the ETUC position, as adopted by our Executive Committee.
  • 06.05.2020 Press release

    Deepest recession calls for most ambitious recovery plan says ETUC

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    Responding to the European Commission’s economic forecast for Spring 2020, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “Today’s forecast confirms that Europe is facing the deepest recession in its history, which means the only logical response is to launch the most ambitious economic recovery plan. “Europe must learn the lessons from 2008 by supporting public investment to create economic demand needed for renewed growth rather than pursuing further austerity that would kill the recovery.
  • 23.04.2020 Press release

    Worrying time delay for emergency measures - Recovery Plan needs to be speeded up

    Luca Visentini & trade unions leaders march for a fairer Europe for workers
    Commenting on the outcome of the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “EU leaders have finally backed the urgently required emergency measures, but it’s very worrying that they will not be available before 1st June when workers, companies and public services are struggling now.
  • 16.04.2020 Document

    Overlooked: migrant workers in the COVID-19 crisis

    Migrant workers in Europe are on the frontline of the response to the COVID-19 crisis. Now more than ever, the crucial contribution of migrant workers to support European economies, public services and fill labour shortages is crystal clear. These workers are to be found in those sectors most hit by the crisis agriculture, domestic and care work, public healthcare at all levels, food industry, construction, tourism, transport) putting their lives at risk for the sake of all of us. Their work is essential; however, they are the forgotten ones.
  • 15.04.2020 Press release

    Roadmap falls down on basic principles says ETUC

    Return to work must be safe
    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) appreciates the effort of the European Commission to propose a Roadmap towards lifting Covid19 containment measures, but criticises it for failing on basic principles and neglecting to acknowledge the practicalities of a return to work, insufficiently mentioning either health and safety at work or the need to apply strict ‘precautionary’ measures. The ETUC asks the Commission to start an urgent and proper consultation with trade unions and employers to define a proper implementation of the Communication.
  • 02.04.2020 Press release

    EU urged to swiftly approve 'SURE' to save jobs from C19 breakdown

    ETUC demonstrating for fairer Europe for workers
    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges EU Finance Ministers and the Council meeting next week to approve the European Commission’s proposal for a €100 billion ‘SURE’ scheme to support short-term work and other measures to protect jobs and wages during the coronavirus crisis. The ETUC calls on Member States to swiftly put at the disposal of the European Commission the necessary guarantees to make the scheme operational as soon as possible!
  • 01.04.2020 Press release

    ETUC on SURE & short-time work

    Cover
    Responding to the European Commission’s announcement of the SURE short-time work scheme, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “We are very pleased the European Commission has listened to our request to fast track the launch of the SURE unemployment reinsurance scheme and support short-time work measures. “The situation of working people affected by the COVID-19 breakdown is deteriorating every hour and the last thing Europe needs in the middle of this health emergency is mass unemployment and another economic crisis.
  • 27.03.2020 Document

    Letter to Croatian Government on suspension of labour & social rights

    Dear Prime Minister, Dear Minister, The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has been informed by its Croatian affiliates, SSSH and NHS, that the Croatian Ministry of Labour and Pension System is drafting an Act on regulating labour relations in the circumstances of the COVID-19 epidemic and by which bring some important changes to fundamental social rights as they are currently enshrined in the Croatian Labour Code. The law would amongst others “temporarily”:
  • 17.02.2020 Document

    AI - Humans must be in command

    Forthcoming European Commission Communication on Artificial Intelligence:  ETUC CALLS FOR AN AMBITIOUS STRATEGY RESPECTFUL OF WORKERS Ahead of the upcoming European Commission’s 2020 white paper on artificial intelligence, the European Trade Union Confederation reiterates the need for an ambitious European AI strategy to maintain and reinforce workers’ protection and involvement, and empower them to create sustainable use of AI tools.
  • 17.02.2020 Page

    German union sets out to save jobs

    Job security is the priority for the IG Metall union, representing German metalworkers, in the current collective bargaining round. In 2019, Germany’s metal and electrical industry – employing some 4 million workers – experienced the biggest drop in production since the economic crisis, putting thousands of jobs at risk. So instead of targeting higher wages,  the metalworkers’ union is focusing on employment protection, seeking a “future package” including shorter working hours instead of layoffs, and further training.

Contacts

Mr Claes-Mikael STAHL

Deputy General Secretary

Mr Ignacio DORESTE HERNANDEZ

Senior Advisor