In an increasingly integrated European Union, the number of employees working in another country then the one they originate from is increasing. This development contributes to a faster European integration process and has in many cases positive effects for the employees concerned as well as for the European societies and economies.
However, there is the risk that workers posted temporarily in another EU member state are exploited and paid lower salaries than workers from the host country, even though they do the same work. There is a risk that this results in wage and social dumping. To avoid these negative impacts, the EU institutions adopted the so called Posted Workers Directive. Apparently, this directive was not formulated clearly enough as the European Court of Justice has judged that it is acceptable in some cases for employers to apply the rules of the country of origin, not of the country where they work.
The PES therefore demands that the posted workers directive is revised, to ensure that all workers are protected and treated equally, and that workers’ rights have priority over economic freedoms. Furthermore, we propose to establish a European framework for cross-border collective bargaining and collective agreements.
PES Positions
Declaration of PES Leaders, adopted on 25 March 2010
PES press release on the Europe 2020 strategy, 31 March 2010