According to Croatian affiliates of EPSU, the European Public Service Union, workers need higher wages. The wages are too low to stem the wave of emigration. Many sectors such as health and care face staff shortages. The statutory minimum wage should be raised to 60% of the median wage. Moreover, the government should foster a better climate for collective bargaining.
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[close]In 2019, 216,256 jobless people found employment through job centres. Since the beginning of 2019, 24,412 youths under 29 have found employment, as well as 24,398 long-term unemployed people, 43,975 who were jobless and over 55, 13,954 disabled people and 58,782 unskilled job applicants.
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[close]Opel is to cut thousands of jobs as strict European CO2 rules start to take effect. The carmaker has highlighted the emissions targets as a reason for cutting up to 4,100 jobs, a move that it says will secure other forms of employment and further increase its competitiveness.
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[close]The European Commission released a Communication on building a strong social Europe to enable just transitions. It sets out how social policy will help meet challenges, proposes action at EU level, and seeks feedback on further action at all levels in the area of employment and social rights.
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[close]A group of activists from trade union FNV held a “New Year’s reception” in front of Lidl's headquarters in Huizen to demand a better collective agreement. The group handed over a petition signed by 500 employees. Lidl workers have been fighting for an agreement that decreases work pressure and provides a decent pay rise and better working conditions.
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[close]The European Commission has published a consultation paper on “possible action addressing the challenges related to fair minimum wages”. In the long history of the debate about a European minimum wage policy, this initiative represents a watershed moment because it is the first time the Commission has considered taking legislative action to ensure fair minimum wages in Europe. The Commission’s initiative is based on the belief that “adequate wages are key for ensuring fair working conditions and decent living standards for European workers” and that minimum wages, either set through collective agreements or legal provisions, help to protect low-wage workers and prevent in-work poverty.
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[close]On 1 January 2020, a significant amendment to the rules on calculating the payment of the statutory minimum wage came into force. According to the new rules, employers should no longer include length-of-service allowances, such as “jubilee awards”, overtime allowances, night-time work allowances and retirement severance, in the calculation of the minimum wage.
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[close]Both the trade union Vida and the Chamber of Physicians are demanding a significant increase in wages and allowances for hospital workers, including for work on Sundays and night shifts. Negotiations for the 8,000 employees in religious hospitals started on January 10. The medical doctors agreed with the rest of the employees that staff investments are required.
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[close]One in four employees in Cyprus receives a salary of less than €1,000 while half earn up to €1,500, according to data from the Statistical Service. Since 2010 only a slight shift of employees moving from the lowest wage scales to the highest has taken place. While 24.6% of employees had a salary of up to €1,000 in 2018, this figure stood at 25.5% in 2010.
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Four-day working week soon to be a reality?
The Interior Minister has proposed the idea of a four-day working week, which might seem strange in a country with the lowest unemployment rate in Europe and one of the most competitive job markets. However, the four-day working week could serve to attract new talent to the labour market.
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[close]Denmark has no statutory minimum wage. Ahead of the ‘OK 2020’ collective bargaining negotiations with industry, trade unions in Denmark mobilised for an increase in the minimum wage. Hundreds of activists from several professional trade unions in the private and public sectors demonstrated at the Copenhagen City Hall Square demanding a higher minimum wage.
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