Freedom to supply services and workers' rights: posting of workers

The rapporteur, Mr Peter (PSE, D), welcomed the Directive that had been put forward by the Commission, which sought to eliminate unfair competition by ensuring that ‘posted’ workers did not receive lower wages and were not subjected to less favourable working conditions that those prevailing in the Member State in which they were practising their profession. While establishing that the Commission and the Council had taken note of Parliament’s demands, the rapporteur also wanted to see the directive applied to port dredging and navigation work. Commissioner Flynn had underlined the importance of protecting freedom of movement, while at the same time avoiding social and wage dumping. He was opposed to the amendment on the application of the directive to ‘ro-ro’ vessels transporting passengers and freight. In fact workers on board this type of vessel were not outside the terms of the Directive in question, and in any case ro-ro vessels came under the law on flag Member State; moreover, it was extremely rare to find cases in which a worker on board a vessel flying the flag of one Member State was transferred to a vessel flying the flag of another Member State. Finally, Commissioner Flynn gave his assurance that the Commission would see to it that Member States transposed the Directive into their legislation.