Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 23/10/2017, 23 October 2017

Main results

Posting of workers 

The Council  reached an agreement on posting of workers directive. The new piece of law ensures the rights of posted workers, fair competition and a well functioning Single Market.

"I am happy that the Council agreed its position on such an important and sensitive issue. And I'm especially glad that after long negotiations, there was broad support for our compromise. The final text strikes a delicate balance. On one hand, it is essential to ensure that our workers are treated fairly. People who do the same job at the same place should also have the same working and wage conditions. On the other, we must not create unnecessary obstacles to the free movement of services - for example in the transport sector that is mobile by nature." Jevgeni Ossinovski, Minister for Health and Labour of Estonia

• Posting of workers: Council reaches agreement (press release, 23/10/2017)

Coordination of social security systems

The Council reached a partial general approach on the coordination of social security systems regulation. The partial agreement concerns the chapters on access of economically non-active citizens to social assistance and on applicable legislation provisions. This agreement clarifies in which country the person has to pay social security contributions in cross-border employment situations. This will be helpful for people, companies and national administrations.

• Partial general approach on the coordination of social security systems and regulation

European Pillar of Social Rights

The Council approved the interinstitutional proclamation on the European Pillar of social rights. The Pillar aims at strengthening the social acquis and delivering more effective rights to citizens. The core element of the Pillar is a set of 20 key principles and rights to support fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems. The Pillar will be proclaimed jointly by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission during the Summit for fair jobs and growth in Gothenburg on 17 November.

• Pillar of Social Rights: Council gives green light for proclamation by the institutions (press release, 23/10/2017)
• European Pillar of Social Rights (European Commission)

European Semester

On European Semester, the Council endorsed the main messages of the Employment and Social Protection Committees.

• Employment and social analysis (European Commission)