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BackThe freedom of movement for workers is one of the fundamental freedoms on which the single market is based. However, people going to another Member State in order to work there often have to overcome many hurdles. One frequently occurring problem are payslips, which are difficult to understand. This is now about to change as the European Parliament has decided that workers have a right to be provided with clear and understandable payslips. A long-standing demand of the Chamber of Labour, which has now been adopted by the European Parliament following years of chipping away at its resistance.
New minimum standard: clear and understandable payslips
This week, the European Parliament in the competent Committee on Employment and Social Affairs voted on the legislative report of the Conservative rapporteur Edit Bauer with regard to measures, which facilitate the assertion of rights, which workers are due within the scope of the freedom of movement. It is a well-known fact that EU citizens, who want to work in another Member State, are still faced with problems when they want to assert their rights. The difficulties they are confronted with, can explain in part why the geographic mobility between the EU Member States is also at a relatively low level. According to the EU Labour Force Survey, in 2011 only 3.1 % of EU citizens of working age (15-64) lived in another EU Member State. Hence, it is high time that a general joint framework will be created for suitable provisions and measures for the improved and more unified application of rights, which EU law grants workers and their relatives if they use their right of freedom of movement. From the point of view of the Chamber of Labour one of the most important aspects is that employers provide EU migrant workers clear and understandable payslips. The original proposal of the EU Commission, but also of the European Parliament did not yet provide for this. Only after an intensive period of persuasion, also by the Chamber of Labour in dialogue with representatives of the competent Committee, has this important point been included in the report. A major achievement for the rights of workers!
Council and Parliament must now find agreement
Following the vote in the competent Committee of the European Parliament, the mandate for the negotiations in the Council has now been adopted. From the point of view of the European Parliament it is now also required for the Council to approve of these demands to ensure that the rights of workers are definitely strengthened.
Further information:
Press release of the European Parliament on the report by Edit Bauer
This week, the European Parliament in the competent Committee on Employment and Social Affairs voted on the legislative report of the Conservative rapporteur Edit Bauer with regard to measures, which facilitate the assertion of rights, which workers are due within the scope of the freedom of movement. It is a well-known fact that EU citizens, who want to work in another Member State, are still faced with problems when they want to assert their rights. The difficulties they are confronted with, can explain in part why the geographic mobility between the EU Member States is also at a relatively low level. According to the EU Labour Force Survey, in 2011 only 3.1 % of EU citizens of working age (15-64) lived in another EU Member State. Hence, it is high time that a general joint framework will be created for suitable provisions and measures for the improved and more unified application of rights, which EU law grants workers and their relatives if they use their right of freedom of movement. From the point of view of the Chamber of Labour one of the most important aspects is that employers provide EU migrant workers clear and understandable payslips. The original proposal of the EU Commission, but also of the European Parliament did not yet provide for this. Only after an intensive period of persuasion, also by the Chamber of Labour in dialogue with representatives of the competent Committee, has this important point been included in the report. A major achievement for the rights of workers!
Council and Parliament must now find agreement
Following the vote in the competent Committee of the European Parliament, the mandate for the negotiations in the Council has now been adopted. From the point of view of the European Parliament it is now also required for the Council to approve of these demands to ensure that the rights of workers are definitely strengthened.
Further information:
Press release of the European Parliament on the report by Edit Bauer