Stop the race to the bottom – Fight for the rights of all workers, against irregular employment, exploitation and social dumping 

Well-managed, regular, orderly and fair migration can potentially help strengthen the economy, generate new jobs and help maintain our welfare system. However migration and integration also have a cost. First, it has a cost in many countries of departure that find themselves deprived of a massive amount of youth and/ or skilled workers and employees. This provokes significant deficiencies in basic public services. Second, in Europe, the costs of migration are not fairly distributed. They are often concentrated in certain segments of the labour market and low-income neighbourhoods. Newcomers tend to find housing in low-income neighbourhoods and have low-income jobs. Women all too often end up at the bottom of the line and in the informal economy. We have to make sure that the benefits of regular migration are delivered to the people who shoulder the initial costs. The demographic trends, growing pressure on the EU healthcare systems and labour skills shortages present a challenge for our societies. Well-managed labour migration can help in maintaining our European welfare system and the EU competitiveness.

Irregular migrants are often exposed to exploitation and irregular employment. Unscrupulous employers abuse irregular migration to place downward pressure on national wages and working conditions. The PES fight for the rights of all workers, against irregular employment, exploitation and social dumping. Migrants and native workers must not be played off against each other, since in fact they stand at the same side of the battle. We stand for inclusion and a close coalition between native workers and migrants to work together to enhance the economy, improve social security and to ensure non-discrimination through measures ensuring equal pay and equal social coverage for equal work. Inequality is the fundamental problem. The share of profits of our economy must be more equally distributed between the many, not the few. Progress must benefit all, so we can develop fairer societies, with access to decent housing, medical support and education for all citizens, natives and newcomers alike.