DutchNews, October
24, 2017
Lodewijk Asscher. Photo: regering.nl |
Outgoing social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher has welcomed a
decision by EU ministers to stamp out social dumping on the European labour
market, which has been a key part of his European efforts.
The deal to reform
the 1996 directive on posted workers means that companies will no longer be
able to employ workers from other parts of the EU for lower wages for longer
than 12 months. Posted workers will also be given the same holiday and other
rights.
Asscher took to Twitter to welcome the deal. ‘From ‘Code Oranje’ in
2013 when the commission branded me a xenophobe to this moment. What a ride,’
he said, referring to a controversial article he wrote about the impact of free
moment on the labour markets four years ago.
The issue of equal pay for equal
work has divided the EU. Western member states back a change to stop their
workers being undercut while Eastern countries want to maintain their
competitive edge – due to their cheaper labour force.
Monday’s agreement took
almost 12 hours of talks and compromises and reaffirms the principle of ‘the
same pay for the same work in the same place’. It will come into effect in
2021.
However, the deal will not apply to the transport sector – one of the
main areas of dispute – until a separate agreement has been reached.
Gelijk loon in plaats van minimumloon— Lodewijk Asscher (@LodewijkA) October 23, 2017
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