Description
a) What Member States and Social Partners can do
Member States and the social partners are responsible for the definition of wage and minimum wage developments in accordance with their national practices, as set in their collective bargaining and minimum wage-setting systems. They are invited to give effect to the provisions of the Pillar through transparent minimum wage setting mechanisms and effective collective bargaining at national, sector and firm level, and by taking complementary measures to avoid in-work poverty.
Furthermore, Member States may ratify, if not yet done so, and apply ILO N° 131 convention on minimum wage fixing and the Convention N° 154 on the promotion of collective bargaining.
At Union level, social partners are to be consulted in accordance with Article 154 TFEU on possible initiatives based on Article 153 TFEU, and may sign agreements which may be implemented at Union level at their request in accordance with Article 155 TFEU. Social partners may also collect and exchange good practices across the Union. At national level, social partners may support the implementation of the Pillar through collective bargaining and through their involvement in the design and implementation of relevant policies.
b) Recent and ongoing initiatives at EU level
Minimum wages and other measures to address in-work poverty, as well as more general issues related to wage developments are addressed in Country Specific Recommendations within the European Semester process.