The concept of the European Pillar of Social Rights has been achieved through the continous efforts of the Socialists and Democrats across Europe to bring social progress to Europeans together with the measures taken by Socialist Commissioners in favour of the Social Pillar in Europe during the last three years, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said when commenting on the Work-Life Balance Directive. Dr Sant said Europe should ensure the introduction of more social measures if it wants to maintain its social conscience. Social development in the EU during the last years had been jeopardized as a result of the austerity measures caused by the financial crisis of 2008. Europe needs to care for the workers, for the young people engaged in precarious jobs, for disadvantaged women, for those pensioners who are carrying financial burdens. Europe should not only appreciate economic progress but give a social dimension to its policies.
The Maltese MEP said that it was during a Conference convened by the EU member states in Sweden in 2017 that finally highlighted the need to implement new social developments in Europe. This has led to the first practical results and the ‘work life balance’ is an initiative in this direction.
“Today there is consensus among the major parties in the European Parliament. I hope that during its next mandate, the European Parliament will endorse other social measures to ensure the social pillar of social rights will be implemented. This will certainly create more discussion on the planning of these social measures. Irrispective of those who may oppose them, these social measures must be endorsed to enable Europe develop its social policies.”
The Maltese MEP noted that the rapporteur who moved the directive at the European Parliament belongs to the PPE which ironically had opposed the introduction of the Social Pillar when this was discussed initially.
Maltese Version – IS-SOĊJALISTI XEGĦLU L-ĠAMRA TAL-PILASTRU SOĊJALI EWROPEW
Il-kunċett tal-Pilastru Ewropew tad-drittijiet Soċjali nkiseb bl-isforzi kontinwi tas-Soċjalisti u Demokratiċi madwar l-Ewropa favur progress soċjali għall-Ewropej flimkien mal-miżuri tal-Kummissarji Soċjalisti favur il-Pilastru Soċjali Ewropew fl-aħħar tliet snin, qal Alfred Sant dwar id-Direttiva tal-Bilanċ fix-Xogħol. Dr Sant qal li kienet ġlieda diffiċli biex is-Soċjalisti u Demokratiċi jwasslu biex il-pilastru soċjali jiġi kkonfermat fuq livell Ewropew.
Fl-Ewropa hemm bżonn jitwettaq u jkun konsistenti il-pilastru soċjali favur il-ħaddiema, iż-żgħażagħ li huma bil-prekarjat, in-nisa li ħafna drabi jkunu żvantaġġjati, favur il-pensjonanti li qed iħossuhom żvantaġġjati kif qed jogħlew il-prezzijiet. Dawn huma kollha miżuri soċjali importanti li jridu jitwettqu bi kbir jekk l-Ewropa trid iżżomm kuxjenza soċjali. Fl-Ewropa ma għandhomx ikunu apprezzati biss il-kisbiet ekonomiċi iżda trid tingħata dimensjoni soċjali lill-politika tagħha. F’dawn l-aħħar snin l-Unjoni Ewropea bdiet titlef mill-pedamenti tagħha u ħafna avvanzi soċjali fuq livell Ewropew twaddbu lura minħabba l-politika ta’ awsterita` kkawżata mill-kriżi finanzjarja.
Dr Sant qal li d-direttiva li ġiet diskussa fil-Parlament Ewropew dwar il-bilanċ fil-ħajja tax-xogħol trid taraha mill-perspettiva ta’ dan l-aħħar sentejn, tlieta mmexxija l-aktar mis-soċjalisti u d-demokratiċi fil-Parlament Ewropew flimkien mal-Kummissarji Soċjalisti fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea lejn dak li qed jissejjaħ il-pilastru soċjali Ewropew.
L-MEP Malti qal li kienet konferenza tal-gvernijiet tal-UE fl-Izvezja lejn tmiem is-sena 2017 li fl-aħħar reġgħet stqarret il-ħtieġa li żviluppi soċjali ġodda jiġu mwettqa fl-Ewropa. Dan wassal biex issa qed naraw l-ewwel riżultati tagħha fil-prattika biex tibda titwettaq u l-‘work life balance’ huwa inizjattiva maħsuba f’din id-direzzjoni.
“Hemm miżuri oħra li resqin jew li se jkunu ppjanati, nittama anki fil-mandat li ġej biex il-pilastru soċjali jitwettaq u jiġi affermat. Ovjament din toħloq ċertu problemi u ċertu mistoqsijiet bil-mod kif dawn qed jiġu pjanati – min jaqbel u min ma jaqbilx imma dawn huma affarijiet li jridu jiġu aċċettati biex l-Ewropa tkompli tiżviluppa soċjalment.”
Dr Sant qal li llum qed ikun hemm kunsens fost il-partiti l-kbar fil-Parlament Ewropew favur il-pilastru soċjali u hemm miżuri oħra li qed jiġu ppjanati li ovjament ikollhom jieqfu minħabba l-elezzjonijiet Ewropej. Fil-każ tad-direttiva li għadha kemm għaddiet ir-rapporteur kien membru tal-partit tal-popolari li ironikament fil-bidu kien kontra li naħdmu fuq il-pilastru soċjali.
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