Most European Union states agreed on Monday on reforming the bloc’s labour rules that poorer countries value for giving them a competitive edge but French President Emmanuel Macron criticises for undercutting his workers.

- After some 12 hours of negotiations among labour ministers in Luxembourg, most of the EU’s 28 members backed a compromise that would cap posting workers abroad at 18 months and introduce a four-year transition between reaching a final agreement on the reform and its taking effect.

- Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland said they could not back the proposal, while Ireland, Britain and Croatia abstained over concerns that the new rules would hurt their transport industries.

- “The Council´s unanimous support for the European Pullar of Social Rights paves the way of the signing of a Proclamation between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth in Gothenbourg on 17 November.” said Marianne Thyssen, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.

Shotlist:

00.00 ROUNDTABLE OF MINISTERS’ MEETING IN EUROPEAN CONVENTION CENTRE, VENUE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL IN LUXEMBOURG (OCTOBER 23, 2017)

European states are to reform rules on workers posted abroad.

France’s Emmanuel Macron was behind changes to current regulations, which he claims harm French workers by allowing companies to pay posted workers more than they would get at home, but less than locals.

00.22

Jevgeni Ossinovski, Estonian Minister of Health and Labour and the bloc’s executive Commission Presidency:
“I believe we have found the balanced compromise that takes into account the interest of the workers and the employers of the posting and host countries of different sectors and professions. It protects the rights of employees while not disrupting the free movement of services.”

00.41 FILE FOOTAGE SHOWING TRUCK DRIVERS IN CALAIS, WORKERS AT BUILDING SITE IN BRUSSELS

Parts of the transport sector were exempted from the plans after Britain, Croatia and Ireland abstained on the basis that the deal would harm the industry.

Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland refused to back proposals altogether. These poorer members of the bloc want their workers to be able to compete on the basis of lower wages, and say the reforms amount to protectionism.

01.01

FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON:
“L’Europe avance, je salue l’accord ambitieux sur le travail détaché : plus de protections, moins de fraudes.”
https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/922581335436296198
“Europe is moving forward, I salute the ambitious agreement on posted workers: more protection, less fraud,”

Protection for French workers is, however, exactly what Macron wants as a sweetner to controversial labour reforms at home.

01.11 VARIOUS OF MACRON, SOBOTKA, FICO, SZYDLO AND ORBAN SEATED, BRUSSELS BELGIUM (FILE – JUNE 23, 2017)

A compromise deal will see postings limited to 18 months, with a four-year transitional period once the agreement has been signed.

01.26 END

MORE INFO :

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-workers/most-eu-states-push-reform-of-labor-rules-sought-by-frances-macron-idUSKBN1CS1H7?il=0
http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2017/10/23/les-pays-de-l-union-europeenne-trouvent-un-accord-sur-une-reforme-du-travail-detache_5204992_3214.html