43 Amendments of Jordi CAÑAS related to 2020/2079(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Research Centre Technical Report entitled “The COVID confinement measures and EU labour markets” published in 2020 and, in particular, its analysis of the most recent evidence available of the patterns of telework in the European Union,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas EU GDP is forecast to contract by about 7.5 % in 2020, while the euro area GDP is forecast to experience an even sharper drop of about -8,7% in the same period;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the COVID-19 crisis is a symmetric shock affecting all Members States, though the impact of the crisis is set to be uneven; whereas the COVID-19 crisis requires a coordinated European response ensuring social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas effective European economic, social and health policy coordination with the European Semester at its core is crucial for mitigating the effects of the crisis and ensuring a recovery which is economically innovative, socially fair and environmentally responsible;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the urgency of the recovery must go hand in hand with the commitments of the European Union and its Member States to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the objectives of the Green Compact and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas auexcessively resterity policctive spending policies and investment priorities resulted in less protective and underfunded social and healthcare systems, which aggravated the effects of the pandemic in certain Member States;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the euro area unemployment rate is expected to increase from 7,.5 % in 2019 to about 9,.5 % in 2020, with substantial differences among Member States; whereas many companies have either been forced to close or are likely to have to do so; whereas national short-time working systems, supported by European measures, enable jobs to be maintained and salaries to be broadly kept unchanged; whereas many jobs remain at very high risk in the medium term;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the crisis will have a significant impact on social conditions, in particular for vulnerable groups;; whereas the COVID-19 crisis affects vulnerable groups in particular, resulting in increased inequalities, fragility, poverty, unemployment and social divergences, as well as undermining social and employment standards in Europe; whereas young people and non- standard workers are at greatest risk of losing their jobs and falling into poverty,
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the pay and pension gaps between men and women remain and are likely to widen with the COVID-19 crisis; whereas across the EU, women still earn on average 16% less than men and the gender gap for pensions is around 37.2% in the EU;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas fair living wages, strong collective bargaining systems, andflexible sectoral agreements and company-by- company arrangements, as well as social protection can reduce in-work poverty, decrease inequalities and generate demand;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas social protection systems are under severe pressure to mitigate the social impact of the crisis and ensure decent living conditions for all as well as access to essential services such as health, education and housing;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas digitalisation and artificial intelligence and their promotion in an inclusive, secure and neutral way are crucial for all industry sectors, increasing competitiveness, creating job opportunities and economic prosperity;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas global challenges such as digitalisation and the fight against climate change persist and require a just transition so as to leave no one behind;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the Commission’s 2020 country-specific recommendations (CSRs); expresses its concern that Member States have made limited or no progress in six out of 10 CSRs addressed to them in 2019; regrets the fact that too many CSRs are not implemented and urges the Member States to implement them, particularly those concerning employment and social aspects;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned about the devastating social effects of the COVID-19 crisis, in particular on vulnerable groups, especially workers who were in the front line during the crisis; stresses that only a decisive and coordinated European response will offset the consequences of the current crisis; calls in this context on the Member States to use the REACT-EU package to ensure aid for the most deprived by guaranteeing adequate funding for the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), to support retention and the return to employment by prioritising young people in the funding provided by the European Social Fund (ESF), and to take specific action in support of cohesion and the territories of the Union, in particular the outermost regions;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned about the devastating social effects of the COVID-19 crisis, in particular on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with disabilities; stresses that only a decisive and coordinated European response will offset the consequences of the current crisis;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that in the current crisis, the Stability and Growth Pact has proven to be inadequatesufficient on its own, not allowing Member States the fiscal space they need to absorb imbalances and mitigate the social consequences thereof, which made the activation of the escape clause necessary; demands that social and ecological objectives be given the same legal enforceabilityrelevance as fiscal consolidation and financial stability where applicable;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that, despite the importance of sound and responsible fiscal policies, and in general budgetary stability should not be detrimental toare the key to sustained, robust public investment, especially in education, social and healthcare systems, always bearing in mind the need to ensure enough flexibility to respond to unforeseen events or crises;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes Next Generation EU, the EU’s recovery plan; insists that the recovery plan must contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, implementing our growth strategy as set out in the Green Compact, and fulfilling the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights; calls on the Member States to make full use of the general escape clausepotential offered by the general escape clause to support companies which are in difficulty and lack liquidity, particularly SMEs; safeguard the jobs, wages and working conditions of European workers; and invest in people and social welfare systems; calls for specific social progress plans to ensure more effective and stronger welfare states;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’s SURE proposal as an emergency measure in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, and calls on the Member States to reach a swift agreement to allow its urgent implementation and, as a result, to increase the chances of companies obtaining the liquidity necessary for resuming economic activity and safeguarding jobs;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines the Commission’s commitment to mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in response to the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on employment; calls therefore on the Member States to rapidly submit to the Commission applications for funding to support European workers who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 in their retraining, requalification and reintegration into the labour market;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Is concerned about the unfold impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the supply chains in European strategic sectors, which is resulting in demand disruptions and unprecedented job losses that risk of negatively affecting the European labour market in the long-term;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned about the increased rate of unemployment and the associated rise of poverty and divergences of living standards, which will especially affect youth, women1a and workers in low- skilled positions and precarious employment; calls on the Commission to propose a permanent EU unemployment reinsurance scheme and a more effective and inclusive Youth Guarantee; calls on the Member States to adequately invest in effective active labour market policies to prevent long-term unemployment;, especially in those regions which suffer significant demographic disadvantages, such as depopulated or sparsely populated regions and rural areas; __________________ 1a OECD, Employment Outlook 2020
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to prioritise the fight against youth unemployment, particularly in the context of the European ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery; to make full use of financial instruments such as the Youth Guarantee and European programmes such as Erasmus +; and to take appropriate measures to tackle youth unemployment and improve the employability of young people;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes with great concern the high level of youth unemployment in a number of Member States and the fragility of young workers’ employment contracts, particularly in sectors seriously impacted by the COVID-19, such as the tourism and hospitality industries; calls on the Member States and the Commission to make the fight against youth unemployment a priority by, among others, fostering youth employability and tackling job polarisation;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that the successful implementation of the EU Recovery Plan requires a proper social dialogue and effective involvement of the social partners; calls on the Commission and Member States to support capacity building of the social partners in order to strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining, flexible sectoral agreements and company-by-company arrangements;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the Commission’s second phase consultation of the social partners on an EU framework for minimum wages; calls on the Commission to present a European framework for minimum, national, adequate wages to eliminate in- work poverty by ensuring decent living wages above the poverty threshold for all workers through collective agreements or through national law, flexible sectoral agreements or company- by-company arrangements; calls for EU- level safeguards for decent old-age pensions for all workers;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes with concern the inadequacy of access to social protection systems and the lack of such access for non-standard and self-employed workers; calls on the Member States to take measures to remedy these problems, in particular by following the Council Recommendation of 8 November 2019 on access to social protection for workers and the self- employed; welcomes, once again, the adoption of this recommendation as a first measure and the Commission’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems in Europe, but stresses the need to make universal access to social protection a reality, especially in the current difficult situation;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to propose legal instruments to ensure decent working conditions for all workers, strengthen collective bargaining coverageverage for social agents for collective bargaining, flexible sectoral agreements or company-by-company arrangements, ban zero- hour contracts, end bogus self- employment, set strict limits on subcontracting practices, and improve social protection standards; calls on the Commission to present a European directive on decent working conditions for platform workers and non-standard workers where clear, simple guidelines are set on price setting, contract conditions, ownership of means of work, and differences between business activities and those of service providers;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to propose legal instruments to ensure decent working conditions for all workers, strengthen collective bargaining coverage, bancombat the improper use of precarious and non- standard contracts, particularly zero- hour contracts, end and cases of bogus self- employment, set strict limits on subcontracting practices, and improve social protection standards; calls on the Commission to present a European directive on decent working conditionsconduct a comprehensive assessment of the working conditions of non-standard workers and to present a European regulatory framework aimed at strengthening and ensuring decent working conditions, rights and access to social protection for platform workers and non-standard workers;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls fonsiders that the recent pandemic has shown the importance of digital solutions, particularly telework an EU teleworking agenda, including a legislative proposal tod the need to establish guidelines and regulations at European level; believes that telework offers opportunities such as better work-life balance, reduced CO2 emissions related to the daily commute, and enhanced employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and may serve as a tool to tackle rural depopulation; calls on the Commission to propose a legislative framework with a view to regulate telework conditions across the EU and ensure decent working conditions, including respect for working hours, leave and the right to disconnect;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. ACalls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the portability of rights and ensure fair and just working conditions for mobile, cross- border and seasonal workers in the EU; calls on the Member States to commit fully to the digitalisation of public services in order to facilitate fair labour mobility, particularly with regard to the coordination of social security systems; therefore asks the Commission to put forward a proposal for a digital EU Social Security Number;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to present an EU child guarantee in 2020, a rights- based, comprehensive and integrated anti- poverty strategy, an EU framework on national homelessness strategies, to conduct a comparative study on the different minimum income schemes in the Member States, and to highlight best practice cases with a view to presenting a framework in this regard; as rapidly as possible, considering the enormous impact of the crisis caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic; stresses, moreover, the need for the Commission and the Member States to collect better and more harmonised data on the number of homeless people in Europe, as this constitutes the basis of any effective public policy;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to present an EU child guarantee in 2020, a rights- based, comprehensive and integrated anti- poverty strategy, an EU framework on national homelessness strategies by adopting the ‘Housing First’ principle, to conduct a comparative study on the different minimum income schemes in the Member States, and to highlight best practice cases with a view to presenting a framework in this regard;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to put forward specific proposals to ensure a just transition in terms of improving the energy efficiency of housing and to adequately address the problem of energy poverty in relation to the objectives and principles of the Green Compact;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to introduce binding pay transparency measures, andincluding a male- female wage equality index; urges their swift adoption of these measures in order to avoid further gender-based inequalities; calls on the Member States and the Commission to support entrepreneurship among women and facilitate access to financing for them; calls on the Member States to unblock the negotiations on the Women on Boards Directive in the Council;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for accessible and affordable quality childcare and early education services, as well as short- and long-term care services, including for the elderly and people with disabilities; calls, in this regard, on the Member States to swiftly and fully implement the Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to put forward a comprehensive and long-term post-2020 EU Disability Strategy, including concrete measures to take into account the needs of persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts towards the further inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market by removing barriers with the opportunities that digital work offers for their inclusion and creating incentives for their employment;
Amendment 361 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to put forward a comprehensive and long-term post-2020 EU Disability Strategy; notes that the guiding principles underlying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, such as full and effective participation and inclusion in society, equal opportunities and accessibility, must be fully applied at both EU and national level;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Member States to improve the quality, accessibility and inclusiveness of their education systems, and to ensure high-quality basic skills training with tailored support, especially for the most marginalised groups in society; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts to invest in quality, accessible education and training, strengthening requalification and retraining measures, in particular the acquisition of digital skills, and to promote lifelong learning; stresses that matching qualifications with skills on the one hand and job opportunities on the other is a prerequisite for the creation of a competitive European labour market and that this should be achieved by facilitating closer cooperation of education systems with businesses, for example by promoting learning, work experience and lifelong learning;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to update the Skills Agenda for Europe in order to meet the skills requirements of the EU labour market and of the ecological and digital transiWelcomes the Updated Skills Agenda for Europe, which provides the tools to meet the skills requirements of the EU labour market and to support the green and digital transition; welcomes the Pact for Skills announcement and stresses that its works should have a forward-looking action plan, with a particular focus on young people, long-term unemployed persons, victims of gender violence, people with disabilities and other groups at risk of discrimination;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses the opportunities that the digital transition may offer to companies, SMEs and start-ups, as well as for new business models, to foster employment growth and new employment positions; calls on the Commission for a coordinated EU initiative to ensure that workers who experience new forms of work, in particular platform workers, have access to a social protection system and are guaranteed all their social rights, regardless of their employment status, and to extend collective agreement coverage to platform workers;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses that small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in sustainable and inclusive development, economic growth and job creation in the EU; calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen their support for SMEs and their workers in the resumption of economic activity and in the transition towards a more digital and greener economy;