Unions urge EU Commission action after Parliament backs fairer contract rules

This development comes as the European Commission prepares to revise its directives on public procurement. UNI Europa and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) are pressing for these revisions to support collective bargaining and higher job standards. UNI Europa’s campaign “No Public Contract Without Collective Agreement,” launched in 2021, has made procurement reform a key political issue.

On October 1, 2024, more than 1,000 essential workers from nine countries gathered in Brussels demanding changes to improve pay and conditions through procurement reform. A survey commissioned by UNI Europa found that 72% of EU citizens favor using public procurement policy to strengthen workers’ livelihoods via collective bargaining. In addition, over 100 economists—including Thomas Piketty and Isabella Weber—signed an open letter last year criticizing the emphasis on lowest-price tenders and backing reforms that would bolster collective bargaining. Employers’ groups in sectors such as cleaning, security, and catering have also advocated moving away from awarding contracts based solely on price.

UNI Europa Regional Secretary Oliver Roethig said:

“Trade unions and employers in labour-intensive sectors agree: Europe’s current procurement rules discriminate against good companies with decent pay and working conditions. Now, after the European Parliament’s report, the Commission must get to work on fixing a broken and unfair system.”

ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch added:

“The European Parliament has highlighted again today how vast sums of public money are being spent in a way which actively undermines the public interest. The majority of public contracts worth a combined €2 trillion a year are being handed out to whoever says they can do the work for the lowest price, leading to poor quality services and the exploitation of workers from care homes to construction. We must reverse this situation and ensure that public money is spent in a way which drives up working conditions and living standards in Europe.”