EAPN Response to the Green Paper ‘Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century’

In its response to the Commission's Green Paper on 'Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century', EAPN states that there is a need for Labour Law to adapt in order to play its protective function regarding the development of precarity and to contribute to an inclusive labour market.

12 EAPN Key Demands:

Reforms to labour law should be subject to an open debate leading to a renewed wideranging agreement involving all stakeholders.

Social NGOs , voicing the interest of the most excluded, should be part of such a debate at EU and national level, together with Trade-Unions.

Progress towards more flexibility should fit workers’ needs, and deliver an inclusive labour market which is accessible for all.

The improvement of the situation of the most excluded should not mean lowering other people’s rights: the language of social inclusion should not be used to undermine workers’ rights.

Labour Law reforms should be based on fundamental rights and support the implementation of the right to decent work for all.

Labour Law reforms should be instrumental in implementing a balanced approach to economic, employment and social objective and be considered as part of an integrated approach together with Social Protection.

Any Labour Law reforms should deliver in relation to current poverty-related challenges of working poor, inadequate income and access to employment.

Labour Law reforms should be driven by the political will to deliver a balanced approach to flexicurity.

Labour Law reforms should first improve the protection of the most vulnerable.

Labour Law reform should be instrumental in building pathways into the labour market, including supporting access to lifelong learning and supporting social economy initiatives providing employment integration.

Labour Law reforms must support positive action in the interest of the most excluded from the Labour Market.

The EU level is a relevant level for stimulating convergence, towards the promotion of quality of work and decent work.

• Primary Source

EAPN: Publications http://www.eapn.eu/content/view/6/31/lang,en/

ESO: Background information: Green Paper - Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century http://www.europeansources.info/record/green-paper-modernising-labour-law-to-meet-the-challenges-of-the-21st-century/

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