Adequate Minimum Wages to Tackle Wage Dumping and to Ensure Decent Living

The Greens members Bernd Voss and Caroline Dwane Stanley emphasised the importance of working towards adequate living wages for an acceptable standards of living, during the CoR Plenary debate with Miguel Cabrita, Portuguese Deputy Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, representing the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In his intervention, Bernd Voss welcomed the clear message which the EU Commission is sending with its proposal for a directive on adequate minimum wage. The proposal is particularly timely in the current crisis caused by the pandemic. He highlighted the links with industrial and economic policy which often lead to unfair conditions for workers. Voss further asserted that a crackdown on wage dumping and unfair wage competition is needed in order for citizens to benefit from prosperity. This directive is an instrument of progressive policy and could help to stop exploitative work contracts and bring more dignity. Lastly, Bernd Voss stated: ‘To enable local and regional authorities to implement fair minimum wages effectively, their responsibilities must be strengthened and coordination with national authorities improved. Volunteers, churches and trade unions must also be supported. They advise in particular migrant workers without regional language skills with regard to their rights, integration and social participation.’

Caroline Dwane Stanley further highlighted the fact that too many Europeans earn a wage that they cannot live on and that the number of the working poor has grown during the current pandemic. ‘If we want a social Europe we need to make sure everyone earns a living wage. Key to a minimum wage is a starting point. That’s what a true social Europe is about’, Dwane Stanley stated.