News

The EU Audiovisual Social Dialogue Committee, gathering employers’ federations and unions in the audiovisual sector in Europe, met on 23rd June in Brussels to discuss the EU’s proposed approach for access to social protection for self-employed and atypical workers. UNI MEI, together with FIA and FIM submitted a written contribution on behalf of the EAEA (European Arts and Entertainment Alliance) to the public consultation of the Commission, underlining the need for extended social protection for all workers, as well as full entitlement to trade union rights and collective bargaining coverage.

The Committee also discussed recent developments affecting social dialogue in the media and audiovisual sector in Romania and in Turkey. The situation of Romania has become increasingly critical with the dismantling of the culture and media sector, without any proper consultation of the trade unions concerned. The arbitrary attachment of the professionals working in sub-sectors like music, theatre or press to other sectors with which they have very little in common would severely weaken their voice and undermine their ability to protect their right. The EAEA and EFJ have sent a strong message of support to their Romanian member FAIR-MediaSind and urged public authorities to change their approach.

The situation in Turkey also continues to be very difficult for professionals in the media and audiovisual sector. The right to freedom of expression, basic human rights and media freedom are seriously violated with many media workers and journalists being still imprisoned and forbidden to exercise their profession.