On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2020 and thereby the first day of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”, the AK and many other organisations once again referred to the urgently needed expansion of violence protection. Similar to what happened in spring, the newly imposed lockdown once again saw an increase in the number of women affected by violence.

On 30 September 2020, the EU Commission published its Communication on achieving a European Education Area by 2025. Even though the Chamber of Labour in principle welcomes the Communication, there are still some points of criticism, which ought to be taken into account.

Everything and nothing - this may be intentionally severe but it is the briefest summary of the European Commission’s communication on the European Education Area by 2025. Everything because of the universal claim to make a “European Education Area” appreciably visible in all sectors of education by 2025.

On 12 November 2020, EU Vice President, Věra Jourová, and the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, launched the first EU Strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queers (LGBTIQ).

On 28 October 2020, the EU Commission presented its eagerly awaited proposal for a Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the European Union.  Even if in principle the proposal is a step in the right direction, trade unions still see plenty of room for improvement.

A Webinar on the announced Digital Services Act, organised by AK EUROPA, the European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) as well as the Vienna Liaison Office in Brussels took place on 22 October 2020. As some of the current legal standards are already 20 years old and no longer meet the requirements of today’s challenges, the view of the Chamber of Labour is that new rules for online platforms are of great importance.

Marking the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality has been holding its first European Gender Equality Week. On 28 October 2020, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs took the opportunity to deal with the latest findings of the European Institute for Gender Equality on paid and unpaid care work.

Already before the crisis, discussions were going on as to which opportunities and risks trade agreements (might) bring for women. Now, the COVID-19 crisis has a particular serious impact on women – also in respect of international trade.

On 12 October 2020, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) started the initiative “Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load!”, which focusses on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSE). Three out of five workers suffer from this condition – high time to do something about it!

Apart from its new Digital Education Action Plan, the EU Commission also presented its vision on creating a European Education Area on 30 September 2020. Both Communications shall contribute to a speedy recovery and a better transition to a digital and green society.