In its response to the Commission’s Green Paper on “Modernizing 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:
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Reforms to labour law should be subject to an open debate leading to a renewed wideranging agreement involving all stakeholders.
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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.
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Progress towards more flexibility should fit workers’ needs, and deliver an inclusive labour market which is accessible for all.
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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.
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Labour Law reforms should be based on fundamental rights and support the implementation of the right to decent work for all.
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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.
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Any Labour Law reforms should deliver in relation to current poverty-related challenges of working poor, inadequate income and access to employment.
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Labour Law reforms should be driven by the political will to deliver a balanced approach to flexicurity.
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Labour Law reforms should first improve the protection of the most vulnerable.
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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.
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Labour Law reforms must support positive action in the interest of the most excluded from the Labour Market.
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The EU level is a relevant level for stimulating convergence, towards the promotion of quality of work and decent work.
