Insecure jobs and European legislation

27.4.2017

Question for written answer E-002964-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Dominique Martin (ENF)

Non-standard employment contracts are increasingly being used throughout the European Union. This is partly in response to the need for businesses to be flexible in the context of economic globalisation. However, the need for businesses to be flexible sometimes translates into greater job insecurity. Yet ensuring minimum social protection for all workers is dependant on national mechanisms and the efficacy of collective bargaining.

The proposal to establish a new European Directive imposing minimum social standards for all workers would, at best, be useless if the standards were very weak, and at worst, harmful to national mechanisms if they were too restrictive.

How does the Commission intend to ensure that establishing a European pillar of social rights is not detrimental to sectoral collective bargaining in the Member States?