Toespraak van minister Asscher bij de Spring School bijeenkomst van het Europees Verbond van Vakverenigingen (EVV)

Toespraak | 12-04-2016

Ladies and gentlemen,

ETUC pioneer George Debunne once said:  'The power of money can never offer an answer to our longing for justice and solidarity.'

My addition to this quote: The power of value can. The value of work. Decent work.

Thank you for your invitation to speak here today about this topic. One that is very important to me.

But first let me say a few words about another power. That of partnership. Partners who can count on each other and who can work together. Partners who have a common goal: a social Europe. Our partnership.

Perhaps George would have said it differently. He preferred the word interlocutors over partners. Those who take part in dialogues.

To me, these words are an inseparable duo. You can't just do one or the other. We need to communicate together and we need to team up, as partners and interlocutors. Only then can dialogue lead to change and action. The achievement of common economic and social goals.

We've seen this in Holland. As partners, we've signed a social agreement by which we aspire to a better-functioning labour market, with a renewed focus on the value of work. 

Dialogue and partnership are also important in Europe. Your Declaration on a new start for a strong Social Dialogue is an important step in this regard. It shows your commitment to revitalizing the social dialogue. The Netherlands is also very much committed to this: strengthening the social dialogue in all EU countries should be high on the political agenda.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In an ideal world, the word combination decent work would be an inseparable duo too. Unfortunately, it is not.

The reality is that we are living in a world where people are promised jobs as long as we keep income and terms of employment as low and as sober as possible. A world in which shady employers are given free reign.

Indeed, we have allowed them to take advantage of the great good of free movement for their dubious practices. Exploiting workers and evading the rules as they go along.

There are numerous examples of cross border mobile workers  forced to work for extremely low hourly wages or for too many hours in the week.

I want a Europe that not only offers work, but also protects its employees. A Europe that prevents unfair competition, while ensuring a properly functioning single market. A modern economy that fuels people’s prospects, rather than seeing them as fuel themselves. 

I consider achieving a deeper and fairer single market to be of great importance. Only then can we create a level playing field and prevent a race to the bottom on labour conditions.

But I don’t have to convince you of the need to stop the race to the bottom on working conditions. Together, we need to continue to convince others. Rather than preaching to the choir here today, it’s my intention to stress the need to join voices and forces.

We have already made great strides. Because until recently, it was taboo to talk about the downside of free mobility. Indeed, I was considered to be insane when I addressed these problems.

Yet now things are changing. Fair mobility is slowly but gradually seeping into the European vocabulary. Last month was a turning point. The European Commission published plans to improve the rules on the posting of workers.

The truth of the matter is that the directive on the posting of workers leads to discrimination against EU citizens. Currently, many posted workers earn less than regular domestic workers, while carrying out the same work.

The new proposal aims at ensuring that the work of posted workers is better rewarded. It reduces the ambiguity concerning their working conditions and fosters a level playing field for companies. It also offers a clear definition of the temporary nature of a posting period: a maximum of two years. In addition, the proposal extends the ‘hard core’ working conditions defined in the directive to all economic sectors.

I am very pleased with this proposal. It is definitely a step in the right direction. The posting of workers directive facilitates the cross-border activities of workers in the framework of services. I hope it will become a symbol of fair mobility. From now on, the protection of mobile workers is on the political agenda in Europe. That is indeed a great accomplishment.

Of course, more is always better. But more may not be realistic now. We cannot solve the issue at once. We need to take action in different ways.

That is why I have also been pushing for an ambitious Platform on Undeclared Work. From June onwards, it will be in operation. This Platform will boost the cooperation between the inspectorates of different Member States.

We also need to end the shady practices of so-called 'letter-box companies'. Companies that perform no real activities but are only set up to get lower labour costs at the expense of posted and domestic workers.

We need to improve the procedures that establish in which country a worker is insured and should pay social security contributions. Better controls and standardization of the existing forms can help to determine whether a company performs genuine activities in the country where it is established.

Decent work is not just about decent pay. It’s about decent labour conditions and a healthy working environment. For years, the Netherlands has been pressing for expansion of the list of carcinogens with limit values in order to improve health and safety at the workplace.

Commissioner Thyssen has announced her intention to set limit values for a first group of carcinogenic substances during the Dutch Presidency period. The Commission is working on a next set of limit values.

It’s another step in the right direction. It sets the precedent for future legislation on health and safety. I am very pleased with the ETUC campaign on this topic. Together, we can press for change in Europe. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

In theory, a Europe without frontiers offers dialogue without boundaries. A limitless social dimension with endless possibilities. Yet in practice, we need to follow up, we need to work on it. We need to team up and communicate. Let’s continue our strong partnership and give solidarity a voice! 

Thank you .