On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Single Market emergency instrument and repealing Council Regulation No (EC) 2679/98
EMPL-PA-745211
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Marc Angel
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The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal for a Single Market emergency instrument. The amendments add protections for workers, social partners and fundamental rights, and require consultation of trade unions in crisis measures.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection to take into account amendments that add worker protections, social partner consultation, and fundamental rights safeguards to the proposed Single Market emergency instrument.¶
Key points
- The amendments add that sectors most concerned in past crises depended on cross-border and mobile workers, who lacked adequate protection and support.¶
- They state that social partner organisations play a key role in elaborating and implementing emergency measures, including disseminating information to workers and economic operators.¶
- They add trade unions and workers to those who lacked sufficient information on crisis response measures, and call for improved availability of information.¶
- They require that any crisis emergency response fully respects and safeguards fundamental human rights, and recognises the role of social partners and collective bargaining rights.¶¶
- They add that the framework should ensure the safety of workers and protection of their rights in times of crisis, and provide workers with access to information.¶¶
- They state that measures complementing free movement of workers should preserve free movement, ensure safety of workers, and provide access to adequate protection and information, including through single points of contact.¶
- They require that restrictions on free movement respect fundamental human rights, proportionality and non-discrimination, and give special consideration to teleworking and mobile workers, including frontier workers.¶
- They require that social partners be consulted on any emergency measure affecting the labour market, and that the Commission consider the precautionary principle enshrined in Article 191 TFEU while respecting fundamental human rights.¶¶
- They require that activation of emergency measures indicate how they comply with fundamental human rights, and respect the autonomy of social partners.¶¶
- They add that implementing powers for supportive measures include protection of workers exercising free movement, and that the regulation respects rights under Articles 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 28, 31 and 47 of the Charter.¶¶
- They add that the regulation shall not affect the right to strike, to negotiate and conclude collective agreements, or to take collective action, and include a non-regression clause for national participation rights of social partners.¶¶
- They add that the advisory group includes four representatives of cross-industry social partner organisations, that trade unions are consulted, and that its opinions are made public.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Workers, especially mobile and frontier workers, gain added protections and information rights during Single Market emergencies.¶¶¶
- Social partners and trade unions gain consultation rights and representation in the advisory group.¶¶¶
- Member States must ensure restrictions respect fundamental rights, are limited in time, and inform workers and social partners.¶¶¶
- The Commission must consult the advisory group, report activations to Parliament and Council, and ensure information reaches workers and social partners.¶¶¶