Ahead of the next European elections, the Sustainable Equality Report championed by the S&D Group through its Progressive Society initiative makes more than 100 concrete policy proposals aimed to re-empower people, to re-shape capitalism, to re-build social justice, to ensure real social-ecological progress and to radically change the way European economic, social and environmental policies are framed.

Anne Van Lancker, policy coordinator for EMIN, was invited to take part in the development of the report. A decent income guarantee for those whether in or out of work and who have insufficient means of financial support through a European framework directive on adequate minimum income is one of the recommendations in the report

You can access the report here: S&D_ProgressiveSociety-SustainableEquality

An Executive Summary of the publication in five different languages is also available here: https://www.progressivesociety.eu/publication/report-independent-commission-sustainable-equality-2019-2024

The Bus journey “Everyone on the Bus: Nobody deserves less, everybody benefits” was one of the activities held within the framework of ENIM2. The activity’s aim was to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of European Minimum Income Schemes. For two months two buses travelled through 32 European countries. Actions sought to mobilise the general society and public entities to reflect and discuss the importance of ensuring adequate minimum income schemes. The bus was in Porto between 5 and 7 of May and in Lisbon between 8 and 10 of May 2018.

This report gives an account of the activities carried out under this initiative, including free visits to the bus, a seminar on minimum income schemes, four workshops with RSI beneficiaries and two workshops with social works who deal with RSI processes and beneficiaries. .

Read the report and see images here Portugal Report Everyone on the Bus_english version

At the eve of a planned reform of the Austrian system of minimum income, the conference highlighted different perspectives on needs-based minimum income support. The key note speaker analysed the plans. “The cutbacks of minimum income support are mainly for Austrians and also for those who have jobs from which they cannot live,” says Walter Pfeil, Professor of Social Law at the University of Salzburg, in his presentation at the Poverty Conference. “Many proposals for the new regulation of the minimum income protection are probably unconstitutional and contrary to EU law.”, says Pfeil. What he really worried about as a law professor is that here “constitutional principles are trampled on”. The law professor refers to the principle of objectivity and cites the Constitutional Court, which argues with the “securing of a decent life”.

“Social protection is a prerequisite for social investment,” explains Karin Heitzmann, professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Livelihood security is a precondition. “When social protection is cut, the economic returns on social investment are also reduced,” says Heitzmann. There are negative consequences for health, educational opportunities of the children, housing situation or inclusion. “These are also costs,” says the economist. Continue reading →

The Hague, House of Europe, 4th of October 2018

 Under the title ‘Minimum wage and poverty, hand in hand?’ EMIN Netherlands organised a well-attended conference in the House of Europe in Den Hague on 4 October. EMIN project leader Jo Bothmer explained in his welcome that this means that incomes from the Participation Act, the State Pension Act and the Survivor Act need to be increased by at least 5% extra in order to guarantee a dignified life. There are groups in society, such as the growing group of the working poor (340.000) that cannot survive because of the low level of income and existing social problems.

Anne Van Lancker, EMIN policy coordinator, presented the state-of-play of the EMIN project. Even when all EU countries now have a minimum income system, differences are big, as well in terms of design, eligibility, levels of payment, coverage and take-up. Only a few countries have adequate minimum income schemes. Often 20-75% of the potential beneficiaries has no access to the schemes due to strict conditions. Anne advocates to create social protections floors, including decent minimum income, to avoid the income levels to gradually fall below poverty levels. She explains what EMIN has done to contribute to that objective. With the slogan ‘Many voices make the choir strong!’, she makes it clear that European citizens can act together forcefully to advocate the need for an adequate minimum income with their government. Continue reading →

Trade unions and social protection experts from around the world have come together in Brussels this week to identify how financing social protection can and should be strengthened. Representatives from over 30 trade unions, along with academics, civil society organisations, government officials and international organisations discussed the range of options that governments have at their disposal to finance the extension of social protection to all people. They agreed that social protection floors for all are financially feasible in all countries and that governments need to get their priorities right to fund them.

See the full press release here: https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-meeting-of-experts-confirms

On average over 16% of European Social Fund (ESF) is identified for supporting Active Inclusion. Active Inclusion is considered to be approaches which foster the participation of people distant from the labour market by addressing the barriers to their participation including through access to essential services, adequate income and accessible labour markets.    At a joint meeting of the Thematic Network on Inclusion (part of the ESF Platform) and the European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) to be held in Madrid on 20 and 21 September, representatives of Managing authorities and stakeholders will come together to discuss and share information on how this aspect of ESF is being developed and implemented. Examples from Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Belgium will inform the discussions. Examples of the application of the active inclusion approach will also be given from Denmark and Netherlands. Recommendations on how to strengthen and further develop this approach will be developed at the meeting.  To ensure you receive the report of the meeting and other related information sign up to follow: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/transnationality and www.emin-eu.net 

The European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) brings together representatives of Administration and stakeholders from 8 countries to share ideas and practice about the use of reference budgets for policy purposes.  Antwerp University is hosting and supporting the exchange of practice on 18 and 19 September. The Reference budgets being spoken about are priced baskets of goods and services that are needed to live in dignity and to participate in the society. The meeting will discuss current approaches to the use of Reference budgets and their comparability. The meeting will also discuss the use of Reference budgets for the assessment of benefit levels, for debt counselling, and for development of individual support services.  A full report of the meeting and the recommendations developed will be available www.emin-eu.net in the near future.

Atlas-of-Work-DGB-Germany  jointly published by Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB, German Federation of Trade Unions) and Hans Böckler Foundation (HBS).

This Atlas of Work presents facts and figures about jobs, employment and livelihoods. It explains many aspects of how our working world is structured today, how it is in constant motion, and what opportunities we, especially policy makers, unions and civil society, have to change it. It contains a chapter on Basic Income. The Atlas offers a solid basis for discussion on work and social protection in the future.