Commission welcomes the Council’s endorsement of the European Pillar of Social Rights and its general approach to reform the Posting of Workers Directive

At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 23 October in Luxembourg, EU Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs expressed their unanimous endorsement of the European Pillar of Social Rights, only two years after the idea was first mentioned by President Juncker and less than six months after it was presented. The Pillar will be proclaimed by the Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, taking place on 17 November in Gothenburg. The Council also agreed on a general approach regarding the Commission’s proposal to revise the rules on the posting of workers. The Commission now calls on the Parliament and the Council to seize this momentum and to swiftly continue the discussions with the Commission, to finalise the agreement and formally adopt the proposal. Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, welcomed today’s agreement and said: “This Council meeting marks an important step forward for social Europe. The unanimous endorsement of the European Pillar of Social Rights shows that all Member States are committed to striving for better working and living conditions throughout our Union, in light of challenges such as an ageing society, globalisation and digitalisation. As for the agreement on posting of workers – our position from the beginning has been that workers should earn the same pay for the same work in the same place. I am glad Member States broadly support this.” At the Council meeting, Ministers also came to a partial general approach on the Commission’s proposal to revise the rules on the coordination of social security systems. A full press release can be found online, where you can also find updated versions of the Q&A on the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Posting of Workers Directive. Commissioner Thyssen’s speakings are available here. The press conference following the Council meeting can be watched here.