MEPs clash over flexible labour rules

Attempts to modernise EU labour rules are whipping up fierce debate in the European Parliament.

Threats posed by emerging economies to Europe’s relatively protected job markets have prompted centre-right MEPs to call for more flexible contractual terms that will encourage companies to set up shop in member states.

"The question is not the Polish plumber, but the Chinese and Indian engineer. If we don’t realise that, then we’ll lose the competition with emerging markets," said Polish centre-right (EPP-ED) MEP Jacek Protasiewicz, who is reporting on the European Commission’s green paper, ‘Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century’.

Protasiewicz is advocating a change in the EU’s approach to job- market regulation. "Many left-wing MEPs are convinced that the main role of labour law is still to protect workers against entrepreneurs," he said. "There’s not a major contradiction between expectations of employers and employees. Employers are happy if they have good chances of getting business, which means employing people, and employees are happy to have jobs."

Under the draft’s recommendations, part-time contracts, freelance contracts, temp agency hirings and so-called zero-hour contracts (where the employee is not guaranteed fixed hours, but is expected to be on-call without compensation) are encouraged.

Danish Socialist MEP Ole Christensen said that Protasiewicz "could not have a majority in Parliament". Stressing that he was not against market flexibility per se, Christensen said that more guarantees on issues such as sick pay should be incorporated into atypical job contracts. Denmark, with a job turnover rate of 800,000 each year out of 2.7 million contracts, had succeeded in creating flexible yet secure conditions for workers, he said.

Parliament’s employment and social affairs committee votes on the report next week (7 June).

Attempts to modernise EU labour rules are whipping up fierce debate in the European Parliament.