Country-of-origin principle replaced in EU directive

THERE has been a dramatic breakthrough in efforts to introduce the controversial Services Directive in the European Parliament.

The country-of-origin principle, seen by trade unions and some governments as opening up a race to the bottom in terms of wages and conditions, is to be replaced. Under the original proposal, temporary workers from any EU state would be bound by the pay and conditions of their home country irrespective of where in the Union they worked. But, following negotiations between the EPP and the Socialists, the main political groups in the Parliament, they agreed the pay and conditions of the host country would apply.

Welcoming the breakthrough, Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa, said: “This would get rid of the country-of-origin principle as the core of the Services Directive. This is a real breakthrough. It will prevent the race to the bottom in terms of conditions for workers, the environment and consumers.”