Dies ist eine HTML Version eines Anhanges der Informationsfreiheitsanfrage 'Proposal for a directive on pay transparency'.






Ref. Ares(2020)3555404 - 06/07/2020
Ref. Ares(2021)2649375 - 20/04/2021

showed, in principle, openness for the request to delay the start of the second 
stage consultation, whilst stating the extension was not needed by the 
Commission.  
Regarding the update of the skills agenda,  J. Korte, referring to the social 
partner hearing held on 17 January, stressed the importance of the buy-in of 
social partners. ETUC called for a framework for up- and reskilling and asked 
how this would be linked to initiatives, such as platform work and the Green 
Deal. ETUC also supported the idea of individual learning accounts (provided 
there is a close link with the labour market) and called for a right to training. 
BusinessEurope  pointed to the link with the industrial policy strategy and 
referred to the positive experience of sectoral employers with the blueprints. 
There was a need to work with employers given their role in training; it was 
important to also train those that are not in the labour market, while noting that 
there is no single approach that could be implemented. How training is provided 
to employees will necessarily be different to how it is provided to the 
unemployed. In this regard, the role of social partners will also be different. 
SMEunited, whilst not supporting an individual right to training at EU level, 
highlighted the importance of addressing skills and labour shortages and called 
for more support for SMEs in this context.  
On Platform work, J. Korte announced a dedicated summit conference on 22 
September to consult stakeholders on the need and ways for improving the 
labour conditions of platform workers. In this context, he stressed the 
importance of the autonomous social partner agreement on digitalisation. 
BusinessEurope asked the Commission to focus its efforts on the 
implementation of the recent initiatives (Transparent and predictable working 
conditions Directive and Access to Social Protection Recommendation). 
SMEunited highlighted the need for fair competition. 
With a view to the reinforcing of the Youth Guarantee J. Korte referred to the 
objective of enhancing the employability of young people. ETUC welcomed the 
dedicated social partner hearing on 20 February and asked for a stronger rights 
based approach linking with the Pillar. The Commission announced that the 
Gender Equality Strategy would be presented in March, to be followed by a 
legislative proposal on pay transparency in the fourth quarter. A dedicated 
social partner hearing was announced for June. BusinessEurope saw the 
gender employment gap as the starting point and highlighted the key role of 
childcare. SMEunited asked to avoid putting bureaucratic burden on small and 
micro-enterprises regarding pay transparency measures (problem of 
confidentiality in the case of a limited number of employees).  
In general terms, for BusinessEurope a competitive economy represents the 
basis for achieving successful transitions. SMEunited called also for fairness 
with regards to a competitive economy. ETUC emphasized to integrate the 
aspect of just transition.  
 
BusinessEurope recalled the quadripartite commitment to social dialogue from 
2016 following the launch of the “New Start for social dialogue” and stated the 
employers’ commitment to play their role.  
 
 


 
3.2 The European Green Deal 
Antoine Colombani, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President 
Timmermans, explained the context and broad approach of the European 
Green Deal and presented next steps following the communication in 
December. He emphasized that this initiative had been presented as the EU’s 
new growth strategy. A. Colombani recalled the necessity, in order to reach the 
Paris agreement objective, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce 
significantly the Greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Designing a set of 
transformative policies, leaving no one behind (just transition), financing the 
transition and mainstreaming sustainability in other policies constitute key 
pillars of the Green Deal.  
  
BusinessEurope stressed the need to work globally and reiterated the need to 
ensure the focus on a competitive economy also when implementing the Green 
Deal. The sectoral focus would be important also in that regard. CEEP asked 
the Commission to continue regarding the Green Deal the practice of bi-annual 
high level meetings between relevant Vice-Presidents of the European 
Commission and leaders of social partners which was introduced under the 
previous Commission. SMEunited, welcoming the Green Deal, called for better 
support for SMEs, in particular with regard to circular economy and for access 
of SMEs to the Just Transition Fund given the key role of social partners at local 
and regional level. 
  
While ETUC praised the global approach of the Green Deal, it recalled the need 
to ensure just and inclusive transition. In this context, social partners should be 
involved at all levels including the governance of the Green Deal. ETUC asked 
the Commission to go beyond Just Transition Mechanism by creating a 
solidarity mechanism to support the most vulnerable sectors (e.g. adequate 
social protection and training). In its reply, the Commission highlighted its 
openness to involve social partners and pointed to the consultation on the 
climate pact. Regarding the integration of the sustainable development goals 
in the Semester, B. Kauffmann informed about the current consultation of 
Member States on draft country reports, ahead of their publication end 
February. 
 
3.3 Update on the implementation of the directive on transparent and 
predictable working conditions  

 presented the 
state of play regarding the expert group for the implementation of the 
Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive. Social partners 
would be invited as observers to the second meeting planned for beginning of 
April 20201 and to some future meetings where topics relevant to them are for 
discussion (8 seats for each side). ETUC requested that social partners should 
                                                        
1  Given the current development regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 the meeting was 
postponed by the time of drafting.  A new date will be communicated. 




Electronically signed on 06/07/2020 19:13 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 4.2 (Validity of electronic documents) of Commission Decision 2004/563