Minimum wage—yet another gender divide?
The number of minimum-wage earners has increased across Europe over the last decade—and they are more likely to be women.
Economy
Analysis and debate on the European economy: growth and investment, fiscal and monetary policy, trade, industry and inequality.
Who will be covered by an EU instrument on platform work?
Valerio De Stefano and Antonio Aloisi
A broad definition of the ‘worker’ will be essential to avoid platform companies sustaining false self-employment claims.
A new global economic consensus
The pandemic has highlighted the deficiencies of economic deregulation and market liberalisation and a new policy-making paradigm is emerging.
The Pandora Papers and the threat to democracy
In demonstrating how some of the world’s most powerful people hide their wealth, the Pandora Papers have exposed the details of a global system.
Trade unions take on platform companies in the struggle for decent work
On World Day of Decent Work, the European Trade Union Confederation puts the spotlight on justice for platform workers.
‘Recovery and resilience’—how that looks from the east
EU funding of bricks-and-mortar projects in central and eastern Europe hasn’t addressed its human-resources crisis. Could the Recovery and Resilience Facility be a turning point?
Another win for workers: Uber drivers are employees
As the platforms lose case after case over the designation of ‘contractors’ as workers, they are lobbying at European level to win back control.
Global inequality and the pandemic: exaggerated hopes and fears?
The pandemic has barely increased global income inequality—but it has made other inequalities worse.
Minimum-wage directive: the case for a ‘social partners option’
Adding a ‘social partners option’ to the minimum-wage directive could unblock negotiations while protecting well-functioning collective bargaining systems.
Platforms put a spoke in the wheels of Spain’s ‘riders’ law’
The Ley de Riders, recognising delivery riders as employees, is now a reality. But is it a game-changer?
Wellbeing at work—it’s time to up the ante
The new EU health-and-safety strategy risks being a missed opportunity to address workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Dedramatising debt
Post-pandemic recovery and the green transition—and Europe’s competitiveness—depend on investment financed by joint borrowing.
Europe gets back to the work … of getting people to work
The notion that active-labour-market policies are the solution to unemployment has long been an act of faith. That’s the problem.
ECB strategy review: the mountain has given birth to a mouse
Peter Bofinger argues that the ECB strategy review represents a missed opportunity.
Recruiting irregular migrants to … fight irregular migration
Magdalena Ulceluse and Felix Bender
The EU directive sanctioning employers for utilising irregular migrants is putting migrant workers who might complain in a Kafkaesque scenario.
The courage to change
Europe’s trade union and Christian business leaders appeal jointly for a new economic and social order after the pandemic.