Europe is a step closer to delivering fairer pay after a provisional agreement on the Adequate Minimum Wages directive between negotiators from the European Parliament, Council and Commission. But there are still further hurdles for the directive to clear before working people can celebrate, most notably the EPSCO meeting of national employment ministers next Friday and the European Parliament’s plenary. ETUC Deputy General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “Workers all across Europe deserve a fair wage that provides at least for a decent standard of living and union representation, and today’s agreement could be a game changer for millions of working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. “If adopted and properly implemented, this directive will not only make statutory minimum wages fairer in those countries which use them but will also protect and promote collective bargaining as the best solution for fair pay across Europe. “That would put social Europe back on track after a decade of austerity, ensuring our economy is based on high wages and rights rather than poverty and precarity. “We congratulate the negotiators for the important work done. It’s crucial that national ministers and MEPs now get this directive over the line so that working people feel the benefit as soon as possible. Now more than ever, working people need a fair pay rise.” Read more