Over the past centuries, we have irreversibly changed the delicate balance of our planet by living beyond our ecological means. Today many of the earth’s resources are scarce – clean water, fresh air, our mineral resources.

Communities are being devastated by mining and logging, and species are becoming critically endangered due to hunting and deforestation. We also face the threats of climate change and are already seeing its impact.

For Greens, the well-being of the  economy and the environment go hand-in-hand. We believe that our best chance of building lasting, decent employment prospects for future generations is to create jobs that are consistent with sustainable development.

Click here to read the full article in The Parliament Magazine.

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The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and the Polish organisation Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej (Association for Legal Intervention) today called on the EU to prioritise the enforcement of the labour rights of undocumented migrant workers.

The ‘Directive providing for minimum standards on sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals’ * came into force in 2009 as part of the EU’s migration policy to prevent irregular migration. Considering irregular employment a “pull factor” for migrants to irregularly stay in the EU, the Directive establishes sanctions for employers who hire undocumented workers.

Part of the Directive (article 6) establishes several safeguards to protect the labour rights of undocumented workers, including a requirement for the employer to pay outstanding wages, and the possibility to issue residence permits of limited duration in cases of particularly exploitative employment conditions. However, five years later, the EU Commission’s monitoring of its implementation in member states indicates that there is little evidence of enforcement in cases of exploitation.

Jean Lambert, MEP for London, co-hosted the event, saying:

‘While governments have moved to punish those employing irregular migrants, it is disappointing to see that they have been less enthusiastic about ensuring the rights of those workers. Exploited workers often have no clear way to report their plight, systems to protect informants are weak and many are not helped to claim money owed to them by those employers who have benefitted from their labour. We need member states to protect workers, whatever their migration status.’

*Directive 2009/52/EC

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At an event yesterday in the European Parliament to launch a new report, [1] Jean Lambert said of the study:

‘This study shows, yet again, that the Government’s portrayal of EU nationals in the UK as being takers rather than givers is just not backed by evidence.’

Covering the period from 2007 – 2013, the findings from four countries: the UK, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands shows that EU migrants made a positive contribution to their respective state budgets. The total taxes paid in exceeded the total benefits received by EU migrants by between 0.2 and 0.9 % of GDP, on conservative estimates.

Directly responding to some member states, the UK included, who want to restrict the right to free movement of people in the EU, the new report from the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) [2] further showed that:

• EU migrants received, on average, 50% less in terms of social benefit expenditure than the average citizen of the countries studied

• Even when pension-related benefits and contributions are not taken into account, the net positive contribution remains for the UK

Hosting the launch event in the European Parliament, Green London MEP Jean Lambert concluded:

‘While these findings are welcome the conclusion isn’t new, and you certainly wouldn’t know it based on the reporting of the mainstream UK press.

‘If the Prime Minister really wants to reduce benefit payments, he should concentrate on ensuring people are paid decent wages so they don’t need state top-ups. Pay is a national responsibility.’

-ends-

Notes To Editors

[1] http://www.ecas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Fiscal-Impact-of-EU-migrants.pdf

[2] http://www.ecas.org/

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11/09/2014

London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert assesses proposed Commissioner, Marianne Thyssen. You can read the full article here: http://www.greens-efa.eu/team-juncker-and-employment-and-social-policy-12701.html

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To read the article in full, click here.

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The move comes as new government statistics show rising income inequality in the UK – with the richest 1% of households in the UK having greater wealth than half the UK population.

In the meantime the estimated gap between the pay of CEOs and employees has doubled in ten years.

Ms Lambert was joined outside the RBS building, in the heart of the City of London, by fellow Green candidates and campaigners to highlight the growing issue of income inequality in the capital.

Ms Lambert said: “Income inequality in the UK is amongst the highest in the developed world – and it’s getting worse.

“At the lower end of the scale, three quarter of a million Londoners earn less than the “living wage” – leaving them struggling to feed their families or pay the rent despite putting in the graft. This is unacceptable – the minimum wage should be a living wage.

“But it’s not just the lowest paid – average wages across the capital have been falling in real terms – while those at the top continue to reward themselves disproportionate sums.

“We need to rebalance the scales – to cap the earning of the elite few, and bring in fairer wages across the board.

“Bankers are the prime example of a pay system which is out of step with society. As a largely taxpayer owned company, RBS should lead from the front on this issue and introduce a maximum ratio of ten to one from the top to the bottom.

“Greens are the only group in Europe who are committed to ending this absurd concentration of wealth for a tiny elite.

“It was Greens who brought in the cap on bankers’ bonuses – something supported by three out of five Londoners, but fought tooth and nail by the UK Government.

“It shows the flawed priorities of our out-of-touch Tory-Lib Dem coalition that they won’t fight for fair pay for all Londoners, but they’ll go to court to protect bankers bonuses.

“It’s time to bring this inequality to halt, and make sure every wage is at least a living wage.”

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Speaking at a debate on the effects of austerity measures on young people tonight, she will call for a ‘Youth Guarantee’ – already agreed at EU level – to be implemented in the UK.

Ms Lambert, who serves as a member of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee and is a member of the cross-party Intergroup on Youth Issues, said youth unemployment threatened to ensure that any austerity-led economic recovery was short-lived.

She said: “Tackling unemployment sustainably, and reducing the welfare and social costs associated with it, mean stepping up our efforts to tackle youth unemployment.

“Youth unemployment can result in permanent ‘scars’, such as increased risk of future unemployment and permanent social exclusion.

“Last year the European Commission and European Council agreed to Green proposals that all young people should be offered work or a training place after four months on the dole – and that cash from the European Social Fund should help put the guarantee in place for countries that can’t afford it.

“The ‘Youth Guarantee’ would build on Green proposals and successful schemes already running in Finland, Sweden and Austria – but not England.”

Figures show the problem is getting worse due to the economic crises currently affecting the EU, with insecure forms of employment, short-term and part-time contracts and unpaid work placement schemes often replacing existing jobs.

Ms Lambert will make her comments at a debate examining the impacts of austerity measures on young people – particularly youth unemployment – and xenophobia.

Entitled ‘Is Europe’s Youth Being Thrown on the Bonfire of Austerity?’, other speakers include Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Shahrar Ali, NUS Black Students Officer Aaron Kiely, London Young Labour’s Philip Freeman, Nazek Ramadan of Migrant Voice and Danny McGowan of the PCS union.’Youth Gurantee

It will be chaired by University of London Union president Michael Chessum, and take place tonight (Friday, February 7th) in central London from 6.30pm. All are welcome.

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The ‘Seasonal Workers Directive’ has been adopted by a majority of MEPs today, the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of 23 unprotected Chinese migrant workers in Morecambe Bay.

It guarantees access to those rights enjoyed by other workers in their country of employment – particularly minimum wage legislation – and, crucially, the right to take action against rogue employers.

It also sets a maximum length of stay for migrant seasonal workers.

But the UK has already said it will opt out of the new rules: so the protection will not apply to the thousands of fruit pickers, tourist guides, hotel cleaners – and other seasonal workers currently in the UK.

London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert worked on the rules with the Parliament’s Employment Committee. She is also the Green Party’s Immigration Spokesperson.

Ms Lambert said: “Migrant seasonal workers coming from outside the EU are some of the most exploited workers in Europe – but play an essential role in some sectors, such as agriculture.

“All too often, they live in makeshift housing and are forced to work long hours for low pay, often without any type of contract.

“But the new rules voted through today by MEPs mark an important step towards addressing the vulnerable and uncertain situation faced by some seasonal workers in the EU. While the Greens would favour more ambitious provisions, this vote will help provide for regular, legal entry for seasonal workers from non-EU countries.

“The legislation, as adopted today, sets out the scope and the criteria for entry and stay, refusal, renewal and withdrawal of permits and workers’ rights among other things. Importantly, MEPs have voted to establish the general right of equal treatment, albeit with some exemptions, as well as sanctions against employers.

“This is crucial to deter unscrupulous employers who try to exploit the precarious situation in which seasonal workers often find themselves and stops such employers trying to undercut basic wage agreements. MEPs also supported the right to adequate accommodation to stop the practice used by some employers of charging so much, it leaves workers permanently in debt to them. We hope this new legislation will soon find its way to the statute books and be properly implemented. We want to see the end of any seasonal worker being exploited, wherever they come from.”

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