By the EESC Workers' Group

The EESC Workers' Group warns that hard-won social and workers' rights should not be pushed aside in the EU's efforts to remain competitive in the global economy. Amid calls for increased deregulation, the EU must not backtrack on key legislation, such as the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Following the recommendations of the Draghi and Letta reports, the Commission has issued a communication on the Competitiveness Compass which, complemented by the horizontal initiatives it has put forward, aims to boost businesses' activities. The goal is to bolster Europe's competitive edge.

The Workers' Group is deeply concerned that social and labour rights may be falling behind in the process, as the EU seems to have chosen to keep pace with other competitive economies at whatever cost.

This is why the Workers' Group has proposed a series of own-initiative opinions that address the competitiveness issue from the point of view of the added value of human capital.  Such is the announced proposal for the opinion on 'The role of trade unions in improving productivity'. The opinion will aim to show that the driving force behind productivity in the EU (which affects competitiveness) is mainly the investment in human capital (workers), as well as in technology and innovation.

The key role of trade unions is emphasised in this context, as they unite individual workers through collective bargaining and action, shaping labour market dynamics to help deliver on the promise of a competitive economy.

Similarly, a forthcoming Workers' Group study will aim to take stock of and evaluate the state of play of EU legislation related to the European Pillar of Social Rights. The study will be an important tool of social policy monitoring, as in its search for the golden path to competitiveness, Europe is expected to mainly focus on its economy.   

Finally, at its April meeting of the Category Workers' Voice for More Democratic Participation, the Workers' Group will examine the proposed efforts to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses  – seen as a factor that slows down Europe's competitiveness – and their impact on EU laws protecting workers and the environment, particularly in the context of sustainability due diligence and corporate sustainability reporting.