Isabelle Schömann

Isabelle Schömann is deputy general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. She was elected at the ETUC’s 15th Congress in Berlin in May 2023. Previously, she served as ETUC confederal secretary between 2019 and 2023.

Isabelle Schömann

Corporate sustainability due diligence—the time is now

Isabelle Schömann 23rd April 2024

After protracted battles, a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence is finally ready for endorsement.

Due-diligence directive: it can’t be unpicked

Isabelle Schömann 7th February 2024

A key decision is awaited on the directive on corporate sustainability due diligence—facing rearguard corporate resistance.

Will Europe deliver on corporate responsibility?

Isabelle Schömann 22nd February 2022

The EU must enforce mandatory due diligence on corporations and their supply chains and involve workers in its strategy.

Making EU regulation better for all

Isabelle Schömann 3rd March 2021

The stigma attached to democratic EU regulation by the ‘one in, one out’ approach must be replaced by a positive commitment to the common good.

Shaping the future of democracy at work

Isabelle Schömann 25th November 2020

Action is needed at European level to ensure workers enjoy democracy at work, particularly in the context of digitalisation.

Instilling due diligence in corporate behaviour

Isabelle Schömann 28th January 2020

Europe must act on its global responsibility to protect human and workers’ rights.

WSI Minimum Wage Report 2025

The trend towards significant nominal minimum wage increases is continuing this year. In view of falling inflation rates, this translates into a sizeable increase in purchasing power for minimum wage earners in most European countries. The background to this is the implementation of the European Minimum Wage Directive, which has led to a reorientation of minimum wage policy in many countries and is thus boosting the dynamics of minimum wages. Most EU countries are now following the reference values for adequate minimum wages enshrined in the directive, which are 60% of the median wage or 50 % of the average wage. However, for Germany, a structural increase is still necessary to make progress towards an adequate minimum wage.

S&D Position Paper on Cohesion Policy post-2027: a resilient future for European territorial equity

Cohesion Policy aims to promote harmonious development and reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between the regions of the Union, and the backwardness of the least favoured regions with a particular focus on rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as outermost regions, regions with very low population density, islands, cross-border and mountain regions.

READ THE FULL POSITION PAPER HERE

The evolution of working conditions in Europe

This episode of Eurofound Talks examines the evolving landscape of European working conditions, situated at the nexus of profound technological transformation.

Mary McCaughey speaks with Barbara Gerstenberger, Eurofound's Head of Unit for Working Life, who leverages insights from the 35-year history of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS).

Listen to the episode for free. Also make sure to subscribe to Eurofound Talks so you don’t miss an episode!

The Summer issue of The Progressive Post is out!

It is time to take action and to forge a path towards a Socialist renewal.

European Socialists struggle to balance their responsibilities with the need to take bold positions and actions in the face of many major crises, while far-right political parties are increasingly gaining ground. Against this background, we offer European progressive forces food for thought on projecting themselves into the future.

Among this issue’s highlights, we discuss the transformative power of European Social Democracy, examine the far right’s efforts to redesign education systems to serve its own political agenda and highlight the growing threat of anti-gender movements to LGBTIQ+ rights – among other pressing topics.

READ THE MAGAZINE