Posting of Workers – equal pay for equal work at the same workplace: an important step for Social Europe!

Press statement 

The EESC Workers' Group welcomes the adoption of the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive, at the EU's Employment and Social Affairs Ministers (EPSCO Council) meeting June 21st. The Workers' Group, along with the European trade union movement, campaigned hard for this revision which will benefit posted workers across Europe by enshrining the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same work place. This will also benefit local workers and companies by ensuring that all workers at the same work place are paid the going rate, thus preventing unfair competition and also social dumping. Collective agreements will also need to be respected. With the adoption of the revised Directive, it also means that one key promise made by European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker has been fulfilled. We regret that transport workers were taken out of the posting directive and we ask especially the EP to safeguard the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place and good levels of protection also for those workers. This is essential for fair treatment as well as for road safety in Europe. The EPSCO Ministers also reached an agreement on the proposed directives on Work-Life Balance and Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions, but the results are quite disappointing especially regarding the fight against precariousness. As both legislative initiatives are important for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights we ask the European Parliament to further improve the legislative texts guaranteeing equal pay for equal work also for all non-standard workers.

We see the amendment of the posting directive as an important step in the right direction but we will also continue our fights for the recognition of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value and for a living wage for all.

Work organisation