Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Essential workers from the European Union will demonstrate in Brussels this October to oppose the “race to the bottom” for working situations in the European Union.
How do EU procurement regulations impact workers’ conditions?
Around 1,000 cleaners, security guards and food service workers will take to the streets of Brussels in a joint call for critical reforms of the EU public procurement directive. Through these rules, private companies are contracted by public authorities to provide goods and services, directly affecting pay and working situations.
Due to procurement regulations favouring the lowest bidder, nearly half of all public tenders across the EU are granted solely based on the lowest price – according to an analysis by the European Trade Union Federation UNI Europa, one of the co-organisers.
How does the “race to the bottom” affect public services?
Unions express this has a direct effect on the quality of public services across the EU, mostly due to the mix of financial pressure on public authorities and public procurement laws that allow them to disregard social criteria in tendering. These types of arrangements employ millions of workers in the EU – which amounts to about 14% of the European Union’s GDP. In 2022, Belgium expended 15.3% of its GDP on public procurements – beyond the OECD countries average (14,55%). In terms of the entire government spending, the constitution was 28.6% (below the OECD average).
These practices also undermine the commitment made in July by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for quality jobs, quality services, fair competition and increased union representation. “Public money should be an asset to make our communities more powerful, not poorer,” Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa said. “Every seventh euro in the EU is paid through public procurement, which should create a foundation of decent jobs that help families, ensure quality services and uplift the standard good,” Roethig continued.
What recent survey findings highlight workers’ challenges?
The challenges encountered by essential workers will be at the centre of the protest. A 2023 survey underscored how cleaning professionals who work weird and unsocial shifts suffer detrimental outcomes of nighttime work on the health, well-being, and social inclusion of workers. This year, UNI unleashed another global survey emphasising the need to improve the working situations of security workers, revealing that an overwhelming bulk feel underpaid, unsafe, and in urgent need of union representation.
Which unions and organizations are supporting the protest?
The General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB-ABVV), Confederation of Christian Trade
Unions (ACV-CSC), and (General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium CGSLB-ACLVB) are all co-organisers with UNI Europa, alongside associations from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Norway.
