ETUC questions growth 'rosy outlook'

Brussels, 3 May 2018

Commenting on the European Commission's Spring 2018 Economic Forecast heralding "strong growth" at "a 10-year high" and "rosy outlook", Katja Lehto-Komulainen Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said

"European Commissioners sound upbeat about Europe's growth but life in the labour market remains very tough for far too many people. There are still 17 million unemployed in the EU and much of the growth in employment is in part-time or temporary jobs. In work poverty is on the rise.

"Growth may have hit a ten year high but the benefits are very unevenly spread between and within EU member states, and wage increases remain subdued. Wage increases are lagging behind growth and productivity. Workers in 9 EU countries were worse off in 2017 than they were in 2009.

"More needs to be done to increase investment, create quality jobs, drive pay rises and tackle inequality.

"There can be no recovery proclaimed until unemployment, poverty and inequality are far lower."