Together with the Autrian Social Responsibility Network (Nesove), the Austrian trade union Federation ÖGB and numerous NGOs, Chamber of Labour has sent an open letter to Austrian Commissioner Hahn on the long-awaited Commission proposal for a Directive on Corporate Due Diligence.

The case law of the European Court of Justice has changed market freedoms into companies’ deregulation levers, which led to increased pressure on public services, social rights and wages. At a webinar organised by AK EUROPA and trade union confederations from Austria, Germany and Sweden as well as the European Trade Union Confederation, alternatives to the neoliberal model of the single market were discussed.

On 11 November 2021,  the Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, presented the Autumn 2021 Economic Forecast. Following the Covid-19 induced recession, the European economies are currently on a path towards economic recovery. Despite the projections being positive, the EU’s economic development is standing on shaky ground due to the uncertain development of the Coronavirus pandemic, global supply shortages and rising energy prices.

Strengthening the social pillar of the European Union must not remain a pipe dream for very much longer. It is necessary to implement more social rights and EU regulations and to understand that social policy encompasses all political sectors.

The Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA), the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB Europabüro), the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) are pleased to invite you to the (hybrid) launch of this year’s Benchmarking Working Europe report.

The second European Gender Equality Week took place at the end of October 2021. However, the Gender Equality Index 2021 shows that the European Union is still far away from full gender equality.

A recent poll shows the overwhelming public support for a law, which holds companies accountable for human rights violations and environmental harms. The EU Commission has to act now and present – as announced – the proposal for an EU supply chain law.

Just a click and a Deliveroo cyclist delivers a fresh meal to our front door, an Uber driver takes us from A to B and a Helpling cleaner tidies our home. Platforms and the use of these services have become an inseparable part of our lives. However, over all this comfort we are only too ready to ignore the issue concerning the working conditions of these service providers.

The draft regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which the Commission presented in April 2021, is currently the focus of intense debate by the EU Parliament and the Council. Whilst the creation of a regulatory framework for AI is to be welcomed in general, from AK’s point of view, however, the Regulation does not go far enough in many respects. Above all, important protective mechanisms for employees and consumers are missing.

Based on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), the EU has been granting countries of the Global South easier access to the European Single market since 1971. On 22 September 2021, the European Commission presented the legislative proposal for a new GSP, which shall apply to the period 2024 to 2034. The Commission’s proposal shall toughen the scheme’s social, labour law-related, ecological and climate dimension.