Csaba Sógor: European Labour Authority protects the interest of those who work abroad
The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs voted on the establishment of a European Labour Authority. The plenary adopted the report on Tuesday. The document includes MEP Csaba Sógor’s proposal as well, which requires the new authority to deal with the abolition of discrimination against workers coming from other Member States and step up against labour exploitation.
The RMDSZ MEP was shadow rapporteur for the opinion in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The submitted amendments appear in the approved document, resulting that Central and Eastern European issues would also fall within the competence of the Agency.
On one hand, the European Labour Authority would be responsible for exposing and analysing difficulties in the free movement of workers and the freedom to provide services for the European Commission and Member States. Currently there are several provisions in some Member States which are discriminatory for workers from other Member States. They are against the principles of single market, free movement of workers and the freedom to provide services.
On the other hand, the Authority should act against serious exploitations of workers from other Member States. According to the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights, the exploitation is a common but often invisible phenomenon, which occurs in many sectors of the economy (including agriculture, constructions, household work, hospitality industry) and affect different groups of workers. “It is common that workers are employed in a Member State without official employment contract, earn below the fixed minimum wage, while working more hours as legally permitted. They are often sheltered under inappropriate conditions and do not get regular or sick leave either”- explains the MEP.
Csaba Sógor stressed out: according to European citizens, the most important achievement of the EU is the possibility to live, work, study and invest anywhere within its territory. Therefore it is very important to guarantee and protect the rights of the workers, and the European Labour Authority could play a major role in it.
The report is expected to be voted by the plenary end of the next year.
