A report by the EU Parliament





Key points by employment MEPs and experts at a public hearing on Thursday :





“ The weakening of collective agreements, high levels of unemployment and the violation of fundamental social rights were the main social consequences in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Ireland, the four countries subject to the Troika's programmes ...”





“ ... the policies implemented did not produce the expected economic growth and competitiveness.”





“ The social side cannot stay out of the Troika programmes analysis. Millions of citizens are victims of those programmes. In order to avoid a fracture between institutions and citizens, there is a need for a democratic dialogue ... ”





“ ... the results was that collective agreements were weakened, experts said, pointing to the decline in sectoral agreements and the increase in company agreements. For example, in Portugal, the number of employees covered by agreements fell from 1.9 million in 2008 to 328,000 in 2012. ”





“ ... Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Ireland, the countries subject to Troika policies each suffered a hike in their unemployment rates, with a disproportionate impact on young people, leading to emigration, which more than doubled in all those countries. Many small firms have also disappeared. ”





“ The charter of social rights from the Council of Europe was violated (...) and the number of citizens at risk of poverty is increasing. ”





“ ... there is a need to change perceptions, such as the idea that labour regulation harms the economy ...”









See also:



