EU stands for workers’ rights and safety on the job

I WISH to clarify a number of points made by Joan Walsh in her letter headlined ‘Treaty is a threat to the pay and conditions of many Irish workers’ (May 5).

As a member of the European Parliament committee dealing with social affairs and employment matters between 1994 and 2004, I firmly believe the EU has been to the forefront in ensuring our employment protection and employment rights legislation has been strengthened.

The EU has ensured that workplace discrimination based on gender or marital status has been prohibited. It has at all times protected the most vulnerable workers in our society.