Follow-up to the second-phase consultation on a possible revision of the written statement (Directive 91/533/EEC) - a BusinessEurope position paper

Key messages

• The nature and purpose of the written statement directive is to inform employees about their working conditions at the beginning of the employment contract or relationship. A Commission’s proposal to revise the written statement directive must ensure that the directive’s nature and purpose are respected.
• We call on the Commission to carefully assess and take into account the outcome of the second phase social partner consultation, including the impact on the future of the European social dialogue. BusinessEurope offered negotiations to ETUC in good faith with a view to revise the written statement directive in a targeted manner. We were very disappointed by ETUC’s decision not to negotiate.
• A Commission’s proposal must remain fully coherent with its 2018 work programme’s commitment to proceed with a REFIT revision. A REFIT revision should focus on improving the written statement directive to make it simpler and adapt it, where needed, to make sure it delivers its intended benefits for companies and workers, while removing red tape and lowering costs in particular for SMEs. Introducing minimum rights would completely change the character of the directive and go much beyond the scope of the REFIT evaluation.