3rd EFFAT Congress invites Europe to fairness

[Politics.be]

The European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Union (EFFAT)began today its 3rd Congress, reopening the battle against labour costs cuttings andsocial dumping. Due to low wages, many temporary agency, seasonal and migrantworkers in agriculture, tourism and food sectors are no longer able to supportthemselves.


It is therefore why Harald Wiedenhofer, EFFAT Secretary-General advocates for a Social
Europe which competes on qualifications and not on social dumping. “We need common
minimum standards for company’s taxes to avoid tax and social dumping. With a Council
which will not agree unanimously with such a system, we can only see a powerless
Commission on this matter. Following the ECJ judgments: Viking, Laval and Rueffert, we
need a Europe that creates the legal prerequisites for consistent implementation of the
principle of non-discrimination throughout the labour market, makes domestic and foreign
companies subject to the same conditions in a framework of fair competition, and guarantees
the same pay and employment conditions for the same work at the same place of work.”
Bruno Vannoni, EFFAT President opened the Congress’ discussions tackling issues that are
“top-of-mind” for the unions these days: “in this period of crisis and restructuring which have
terrible consequences on the number of our members, these wounds re-open nationalist
speeches, when on the contrary we need a better European visibility and effectiveness to be
able to build up a Social Europe.”
EFFAT Congress is scheduled until 21st October under the theme: “Social Justice from Farm
to Fork-Fight Precarious Work!” with a press conference at 11:45, 21st October, Hotel
Maritim, where the unions will launch the Charter on Precarious Work.


Bron: politics.be