Wage-earners' rights
The primary political goal of LO and the Social Democrats is full employment. Job creation and active measures to counter unemployment are the core of our politics.
The success of the economic model of Sweden rests on strong devoted unions that secure wage-earners' interests. Sweden's competitiveness is not to be based on low wages and poor working conditions - neither in Sweden nor in the EU. LO and the Social Democrats therefore demand the introduction of a social protocol to the EU treaty. A social protocol can create better balance between economic freedoms and fundamental rights for wage-earners in the EU internal market. A social protocol would not solve all problems in the European labour market, but it would strengthen wage-earners' position.
In the case of an EU treaty amendment, the Social Democrats will put the demand for the introduction of a social protocol and make a treaty amendment conditional on a social protocol.
Push for a political change
- In times when many workers see their wages and working conditions put under pressure, it is important for us to push for a political change, Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, LO President says. Market incentives must be changed, to enable genuine competition by means of knowledge and skills. In the present situation, dishonest companies can profit from low wages, poor working conditions and tax competition.
For a social Europe
Making a treaty amendment conditional on a social protocol would apply in the case of full treaty change, submitted to ordinary revision procedure including European Convention negotiations and subsequent intergovernmental conference. Minor treaty amendments, which only require simplified revision procedure, would be defined depending on the case.
The report of the working group contains a number of proposals aimed at strengthening the social dimension of the EU.