To improve the standard of living of Europeans, raise purchasing power and combat wage competition that drives wages down, we believe that it is time for a fast wage increase.
We are convinced that wages should further increase, for a more equal sharing of profits, and we will support collective bargaining efforts towards this objective. For the lowest paid, we want minimum wages above the poverty level in all EU countries, reached either through law or collective bargaining, so that no worker is forced to live in poverty.
We want to provide a European Framework for minimum wage regulation, in respect of national specificities. Such minimum wages should apply to all workers. There should be no exception, including for the youngest.
Equal pay and equal working conditions must apply for equal work in the same place, irrespective of the size of the company, the worker’s age, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender, the place of employment or the type of contract. The gender pay gap is completely unacceptable, and this is why we want to reduce it by at least 2 percent per year until it is eliminated by 2030. We want women and men to be equally represented in management positions and strive for a quota to reach that objective. The PES is also committed to reducing the important pay gap that exists between EU member States.
The transformation of work, the digital revolution, digital working and rapidly evolving labour markets must not undermine European working and employment standards. The digital era has tremendous potential to transform our societies and our quality of life for the better. But to achieve this, we need to manage the deep societal changes that it brings.