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Today, the European Parliament endorsed new rules for posted workers that will create fair conditions and fair competition for European workers and companies. UNI Europa have campaigned to close loopholes in the outdated legal framework for workers temporarily providing a service in another EU country.

“EU legislation guaranteeing the same pay for the same work in the same place is an important step to make the EU’s single market serve workers better,” said UNI Europa’s Regional Secretary, Oliver Roethig. “Still, there remains much to be done to stop the Single Market from fostering the exploitation of worker, both when they work abroad or in their home country.”

“What we really need is not the current piecemeal approach. The EU needs a comprehensive strategy to overcome the disadvantages workers face through the EU, individually as well as when they pursue their interests togethers through collective bargaining. For UNI Europa, this is a key topic for the next European Parliament and for its election in 2019.”

Key points of the new Directive:

• Posted workers are entitled to the same pay as the local workforce from day one
• Wages according to collective bargaining agreements
• Allowances such as a thirteenth salary, cold weather payments and other benefits
• The reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs, on top of the salary
• Change from home to host labour law after 12 months, with a possible extension of 6 months, instead of after 24 months as proposed by the Commission