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Workers are still not feeling economic recovery: wages are lower now than they were eight years ago in seven EU member states (Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Cyprus, UK and Italy). That is one of the findings in the Benchmarking Working Europe 2017 report, published by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

The report analyses latest trends and outcomes of European policies in the areas of macro-economics, wages and collective bargaining, labour markets and, last but not least, social dialogue and workers' participation.

It also shows that in 18 EU countries wages have grown much slower over the seven years after the crisis than in the eight years before that.

Only in 3 countries – Germany, Poland and Bulgaria- have real wage increases over 2009-16 outstripped increases in 2001-08.

The Benchmarking working Europe 2017 report highlights increasing social divergences in the European Union and underlines the need for new policies that can generate higher living standards for all, based on fair integration and upwards convergence.

Read the full report here