Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive: ETUC urges all EU Member States to extend protection to every worker

24 January 2019

Tomorrow, EU Member States will discuss the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive at a decisive Coreper meeting that will steer the Council position in trilogue negotiations.

Member States should respect the large majority in the Parliament and stop calling for a 20-hours threshold for the application of the Directive. Abuse of flexibility is undermining all EU employment rights and it is essential that Member States, at the meeting tomorrow, allow the EU to take the necessary action to remedy the loopholes and improve the working lives of European workers.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges Member States to do the decent thing and apply the Directive to the most vulnerable workers regardless of working time or sector.

“It will be unacceptable to workers if those with zero-hours or low-hours contracts are excluded from protection,” said Esther Lynch, ETUC Confederal Secretary. “The Directive will lack all credibility if groups of workers who need the protection most, end up without it. Likewise, no justification can be found to exclude workers in the public sector, emergency services, armed forces, police authorities or seafarers.”

The ETUC is demanding an end to the abuse of workers on zero- and low-hours contracts, preventing unscrupulous employers from abusing flexibility.

“Shifts cancelled at the last minute need to be paid, and the final text should give workers the right to a contract recognising and guaranteeing their established work pattern,” added Esther Lynch.