The French Presidency of the EU Council, which began on 1 January 2022, has set out its priorities in the field of employment and social affairs (see Council of the European Union). Although the programme is largely dictated by initiatives on which work has already begun, the Presidency can still prioritise certain issues, with a view to taking them forward. In its work programme, the Presidency emphasises its desire to “commence negotiations with the European Parliament concerning the proposed directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU”.
Just a few months away from the next presidential election in France, due to be held in April, the adoption of this directive would undoubtedly be a significant political victory for the current French President, Emmanuel Macron, whose policy has been criticised in some quarters as being too liberal. However, the Presidency is not announcing either the adoption of the text nor a compromise with Parliament, as negotiations with MEPs are proving difficult. The second text is the proposal for a directive to improve the working conditions of platform workers. This proposal has made much less progress than the first one, as the Commission has only just presented it, whereas the minimum wage proposal has already been adopted by both the Council and the Parliament.
The Presidency announces that it “will also initiate discussions” on this text on the Council. The Commission’s proposal is somewhat distant from the way in which the French government is attempting to regulate working conditions on online platforms in France, by placing the emphasis on social dialogue. The third text is the proposed directive on pay transparency, for which the “Presidency will move forward negotiations through trilogues” once Parliament has finalised its position, the Council having already reached a political agreement under the Slovenian Presidency.
At the same time, the Presidency is committed to “advancing discussions on the proposed directive on improving gender balance on company boards”, which has been mired on the Council for almost ten years now. The French Presidency is also involved in the joint programme, prepared in conjunction with the future Czech (2nd half of 2022) and Swedish (1st half of 2023) presidencies. This “Trio Programme” defines the priorities for the next 18 months. The aim is to strengthen the European social model and to make labour markets more inclusive for older workers and persons with disabilities. Other issues included in the programme are: improving the working conditions of platform workers; health and safety at work; and tackling gender inequalities. The trio will also “promote the establishment of due diligence obligations regarding human rights and environmental impacts and support the setting up of EU standards for corporate sustainability reporting in order to promote an EU model of responsible business”
(article published in IR Notes 177, 12 January 2022)
Just a few months away from the next presidential election in France, due to be held in April, the adoption of this directive would undoubtedly be a significant political victory for the current French President, Emmanuel Macron, whose policy has been criticised in some quarters as being too liberal. However, the Presidency is not announcing either the adoption of the text nor a compromise with Parliament, as negotiations with MEPs are proving difficult. The second text is the proposal for a directive to improve the working conditions of platform workers. This proposal has made much less progress than the first one, as the Commission has only just presented it, whereas the minimum wage proposal has already been adopted by both the Council and the Parliament.
The Presidency announces that it “will also initiate discussions” on this text on the Council. The Commission’s proposal is somewhat distant from the way in which the French government is attempting to regulate working conditions on online platforms in France, by placing the emphasis on social dialogue. The third text is the proposed directive on pay transparency, for which the “Presidency will move forward negotiations through trilogues” once Parliament has finalised its position, the Council having already reached a political agreement under the Slovenian Presidency.
At the same time, the Presidency is committed to “advancing discussions on the proposed directive on improving gender balance on company boards”, which has been mired on the Council for almost ten years now. The French Presidency is also involved in the joint programme, prepared in conjunction with the future Czech (2nd half of 2022) and Swedish (1st half of 2023) presidencies. This “Trio Programme” defines the priorities for the next 18 months. The aim is to strengthen the European social model and to make labour markets more inclusive for older workers and persons with disabilities. Other issues included in the programme are: improving the working conditions of platform workers; health and safety at work; and tackling gender inequalities. The trio will also “promote the establishment of due diligence obligations regarding human rights and environmental impacts and support the setting up of EU standards for corporate sustainability reporting in order to promote an EU model of responsible business”
(article published in IR Notes 177, 12 January 2022)
