UK Unions are concerned over the draft EC Services Directive, which proposes that providers be subject to the laws and conditions within their own country, rather than the country where they are based, thus giving rise to safety issues and employment rights of workers.
Amicus and other Unions have voiced their concerns over such as the following:
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The controversial Services Directive could allow workers from other European countries to work in the UK with the wages and safety standards of their home country.
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Service providers would only be subject to the laws and conditions applying in the country where they are based, rather than those of the country where they provide the service, under the "country of origin principle."
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European companies working in Britain would only be expected to abide by safety standards in place in their own country, enforced in the UK by their own safety enforcement agency.
As a result of the above safety fears and employment rights concerns, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling for a major demonstration to take place in Strasbourg, on 14 February 2006.
Some of the crucial issues the ETUC will be making and voting on in Strasbourg are as follows:
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Excluding the labour law, together with all collective arrangements from the draft Directive.
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Excluding services of general interest.
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Attacking the "country of origin" principle in the draft Directive.
It is agreed by many EU countries, that there is a need for a services directive, however, it is accepted that amendments to the draft Bolkenstein Directive are necessary, in order to avoid potential safety situations arising to the detriment of workers.
Chairing the EC Summit of 2005, Luxembourg Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker was in agreement of amendments to current proposals within the draft Directive and said:
"Nobody can sensibly dispute the fact that we need to open up the services sector in Europe. but it must be done with respect for certain sensitivities and convictions.
"Changes will be made to take the social model into account."
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) have a webpage, albeit from 2004, which provides further details regarding the proposed Directive and can be accessed by clicking the following:
HSC responds to DTI consultation on draft EC Services Directive
Article by Alexandra Johnston
