Press Release: Council reaches general approach on posting of workers directive

The Employment and Social Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on the 9 December 2013 reached a general approach on the posting of workers enforcement directive so that negotiations could start with the European Parliament with a view to reaching an agreement in first reading.

Ministers reached an overall compromise agreement on the two outstanding issues of the directive; national control measures and joint and several liability in subcontracting chains.

The Social Partners were predictably divided in their response to the agreement reached in the Council: Business Europe welcomed the agreement, the ETUC criticised it and looked to the European Parliament to insist on changes.

In the meantime, the French far-right has called for an abolition of the posted workers directive, while other French MEPs question the move saying Front National leader Marine Le Pen never tabled a single amendment on the matter during the parliamentary debates.

• Primary Source

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EUObserver, 10.12.13: Member states agree reforms on foreign worker rules http://euobserver.com/social/122409

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