European Pillar of Social Rights

Congress recognises the danger posed by extreme right-wing populism throughout Europe. At least part of the reason for this has been the tendency by EU institutions to prioritise the rights of capital over the rights of workers, and they enthusiastically support the single market while adopting a hands-off attitude to social rights. The European Pillar of Social Rights can be a way forward, but only if it provides a credible promise of hope for working people and leads to a real and substantive social action programme encompassing legislation, policymaking mechanisms and nancial resources. It must promote trade union and collective bargaining rights at national level and with multinational companies, and also proactively address the labour dimension of digitalisation in order to guarantee a just transition for workers. Congress therefore welcomes President Juncker' s proposal for a European Pillar of Social Rights, and supports the work of the ETUC in ensuring its effectiveness. Congress expects that the Pillar would as a minimum: Include enforceable rights as well as benchmarks and recommendations. Improve social rights and standards of living. Invest for strong public services, jobs and  quality employment and sustainable growth. Promote social dialogue, collective bargaining and wage increases to support economic demand and to tackle inequalities. Apply to all member states and not just Eurozone countries and comprehend collective agreements as well as minimum standards. The Pillar must contain legislative proposals to promote quality work and halt excessive moves towards exibility and casualization. The proposals should guarantee the social model built on trade union rights and protecting collective agreements especially in the context of free movement, introduce better economic rules so that workers can negotiate a pay rise, and encourage investment in much-needed public services such as transport and childcare. Only an ambitious and binding Social Pillar can be a step towards regaining workers lost confidence in our European project.