The European Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Effective protection against discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities is therefore a mainstay of European policies. However, a recent study on discrimination in Austria confirms yet again that discrimination is a widespread phenomenon: Almost half (43 %) of the respondents stated having experienced discrimination at least once in the course of the last three years.

The creation of a European Labour Authority (ELA), which shall help to intensify the fight against cross-border wage and social dumping, had been a major concern for the Chamber of Labour. On 16th October the authority took up its work with an opening ceremony attended by Commission President Juncker and a first public meeting of its Management Board. However, the authority must first pass its field test.

On 16.10.2019, AK EUROPA and ÖGB Europabüro invited to an event on anti-discrimination. The event centred around a study on discrimination in Austria, commissioned by AK Vienna. The appointment of the Commissioner-designate for Equality, Helena Dalli, gave yet another reason to debate political and legislative measures against discrimination at EU level.

AK EUROPA and ÖGB Europabüro cordially invite you to the following event:

The hearings of the Commissioners-designate started in the European Parliament on 30th September. The new Commissioner for Jobs too answered in a 3-hour hearing the questions of MEPs, in his case before the Employment Committee. From AK’s point of view, many important issues on the more social shaping of Europe were part of the hearing.

On Tuesday, the Maltese Helena Dalli, previously Minister for European Affairs and Equality in Malta, answered questions by MEPs in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL). Due to the fact that she will be entrusted with the issue of equality, the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) chaired by the social democrat Evelyn Regner also took part, as were MEPs of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).

Even if the Commissioners-designate have not taken office yet, the so-called mission letters provide an outlook for the future departments and priorities, which the new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has awarded to the 26 candidates.

During the coming months, the European Commission will focus more and more on climate change and the necessary changes within society associated with it. Important in the AK’s opinion is that all people will be positively affected within the framework of a so-called “just transition”. To achieve this, it is crucial not to lose sight of the social aspects of climate change.

AK EUROPA, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, ÖGB Europabüro, the Brussels Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) cordially invite you to the following event:

On 3 September, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen exchanged with the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the revised Posted Workers Directive. The subject was equal treatment of posted workers in their host country, as well as social protection of employees, which shall put a stop to the infamous race to the bottom and social dumping. However, one question was not dealt with: What actually happens if a company that posted workers goes bankrupt in the home country, leaving employees behind with unpaid wages?