POSTED WORKERS (FEATURE) : SOCIAL PARTNERS DIVIDED OVER NEED FOR ACTION.

The social partners, contacted by Europolitics, hold differing views regarding the review of Posted Workers Directive, with two notable exceptions (see inset).

UNICE: leave things as they are

The position paper released by the EU employers' organisation, UNICE, is clear. There is no need for a revision of the Directive. It offers a "balanced framework outlining flexible rules which must be observed". Any "problems that might arise can be resolved in the states concerned". The concept of posting of workers, reconciling social considerations in the case of the provision of cross-border services, specifying which areas are covered by the host country and which by the country of origin, remains valid. There is no reason to change it. Whilst UNICE feels the report itself might be improved, notably through practical examples corresponding to real-life situations, it broadly shares the Commission's opinion (not addressing the case of freelance workers, leaving the definition of work and the issue of the liability of initiators to the national level, not setting a duration for secondment,...). It's only regret: the presence of "political comments on notions - working time, gender equality, temporary work, paid leave, freelance workers - which, technically, have no connection with detachment".

CEEP: positive impression

The European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation (CEEP) remains circumspect. The majority of its members - public employers and general interest service providers - "are guided more by the principle of establishment", working "at local level" and make little use of secondment. The general impression of the principles outlined in the Directive remains "positive" according to a working paper. The CEEP therefore sees "no need to change it".

ETUC: beef up the Directive and establish a social Europol

According to a first analysis by experts on the dossier at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) - the Executive Committee, the Confederation's political body, is due to issue its opinion on 14 or 15 March - the representative organisation of workers is critical. ETUC aims to highlight the Directive's fundamental principles - 'fair competition and measures guaranteeing respect for worker' - in calling on the Commission to adopt 'a more proactive approach'. Europe 'has no vocation to organise social dumping an introduced welfare state...