Protection of workers’ rights at risk

UNION fears over controversial moves to liberalise Europe’s services sector are understandable given recent developments in Irish Ferries where cheap labour policies are the order of the day.

Any lingering doubts about the intensity of opposition to the EU directive were dispelled as tens of thousands of workers yesterday took to the streets of Strasbourg, Dublin and other European cities.

Expected to get the green light from MEPs after this week’s first reading, the dilemma is whether service providers should be able to set up abroad without complying with the regulations of host states. Should East European companies operating in Ireland be allowed pay Latvian or Lithuanian wage rates?