According to EAPN, the Draft Joint Employment Report 2004-2005 fails in some points to assess the effect of employment national policies on the interest of people experiencing poverty.
In-work poverty means that some people are still experiencing poverty, despite holding a job. From 2010 to 2013, EAPN has closely monitored and mapped the situation in Member States, as well as the effect of different policy options towards solving the situation, or making it worse. The position paper aims to set out EAPN’s developing analysis of the issue of in-work poverty, and to contribute to the debate, highlighting the different situations across Europe, including the role of low pay, the structure and increased segmentation of the labour market, the role of benefit and taxation policies, and individual characteristics. Building on the extensive work done by EAPN members, key concerns are outlined, and the impact of various policies in different countries discussed, including the negative impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures. The paper brings the stories of the people themselves into the spotlight, and makes a plea for participation and democracy, as the foundation for formulating concrete proposals and ways forward on how to effectively combat in-work poverty. The role of the EU in fighting this growing phenomenon is clearly underlined.
Thanks to the inspirational work of ATD 4th World and Migrants Voice, The Unemployed Workers’ Centres in the UK have developed the idea of the Snakes and Ladders game to show how difficult it can be to climb out of poverty.
Reinforcing the EU Inclusion Strategy was the ambitious aim set out by EAPN in organising a conference on the occasion of the Luxembourg presidency of the EU.
The Third Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, one of the Flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, took place on 26-27 November 2013 in Brussels. Over 50 EAPN national members participated, as well as European Organisations members of EAPN. As in previous years, EAPN spoke in a number of settings during the Convention. EAPN was also active in workshops and side events.
In its analysis, EAPN judges the EU Constitutional Treaty in terms of whether it provides the legal and practical instruments, and shows the political intention, to eradicate poverty in the European Union and provide social rights and a voice to people experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
20/11/2013 – EAPN together with other social/health NGOs (EPHA, Age-Platform, Eurodiaconia, Social Platform and Caritas Europa ) took joint action on the EP Resolution on the Social Dimension of the EMU to be voted on in plenary tomorrow, 21st November. The letter calls for support to amendment 10 proposing that economic and social indicators are put on an equal footing, in order to support coherent EU policy approach and rejection of amendment 9 which would limit the engagement of stakeholders to only social partners, excluding civil society. Social NGOs hope for a strong resolution that can help to press for an effective implementation of this new Commission attempt to strengthen the Social Pillar in the EMU.
{jathumbnail}Stimulating growth through adjusting macroeconomic conditions remains the principal policy response to pressing problems of unemployment, poverty and environmental degradation. However, the current growth trajectory has neither led to a reduction of our overall resource use – as we use resources and energy more efficiently we consume more – nor created the conditions for full employment and increasing wellbeing. Growth in Transition, to which Michaela Moser, from EAPN Austria (die Amutskonferenz),
EAPN welcomes the initiative of the Commission to restart concrete attempts to develop an economic migration policy.