European workers affected by the coronavirus crisis will keep receiving up to 100% of their normal wages under protections won by trade unions.

ETUI research for the ETUC has found 18 EU countries, Norway and the UK, have taken some measure to protect the jobs and wages of workers who have been temporarily laid off or had their hours reduced.  

In stark contrast, Croatia, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency, is proposing to suspend labour and social rights  – a move the ETUC condemns strongly in a letter to the country’s Prime Minister.

In many countries, trade unions have been negotiating with employers and national governments to put in place policies which will secure the short-term income and long-term livelihoods of workers:

• Austria: Trade unions, employers and the government agreed a reduced hours work scheme which will see the lowest paid workers receive 90% of their normal wages. Middle earners will receive 85% and higher earners will receive 80%.
   
• Netherlands: Picking up many of the trade unions’ proposals to preserve employees’ jobs and incomes, the Dutch government announced a three-month scheme which will see workers retain their full income while depending on the size of their loss of turnover companies receive up to 90% wage support from the state.  This scheme also applies to temporary and contract workers.

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