03:45Hundreds of essential workers from several countries across the European Union held a protest in Brussels on Tuesday over EU regulations on their working conditions.
Footage shows protesters - among them cleaners, security and catering workers - waving union flags and banners reading 'Stop exploitation' and 'Respect our work', among others while demonstrating in the city centre.
"We are here for a large number of workers in Europe, who were the ones who had to stand up for themselves at the time of the pandemic, whom the authorities called essential, who took care, who had to face the huge risks without protective equipment, and who continue to be the bargaining chip when it comes to companies winning. The revision of the directive cannot translate itself into worsening the working conditions," Jesus Gallegoa, International secretary of Spain's UGT union said.
Demonstrators demanded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reform the rules for awarding public contracts and thus improve the working conditions and wages of workers involved in these contracts.
The unions denounced public offers for tenders which they say are pushed towards the lowest prices while also requesting reforms to include a part on subcontractors, in order to prevent the public procurement directive from being circumvented.
"Workers need acceptable working conditions and adequate salaries, but this doesn't fit in with public procurement conditions: the first criteria is always the lowest price, and that's what we want to denounce today," another protester explained.
During the day, workers also demonstrated at Brussels and Charleroi airports in support of the main protest leading to disruption at both airports according to media reports.
A study from the union organisation UNI Europa from 2023 suggests that almost half of public contracts in the EU are awarded on the basis of the lowest price.
'Stop exploitation!' - Hundreds of cleaners, security staff, catering workers rally in Brussels for better EU working conditions
Hundreds of essential workers from several countries across the European Union held a protest in Brussels on Tuesday over EU regulations on their working conditions.
Footage shows protesters - among them cleaners, security and catering workers - waving union flags and banners reading 'Stop exploitation' and 'Respect our work', among others while demonstrating in the city centre.
"We are here for a large number of workers in Europe, who were the ones who had to stand up for themselves at the time of the pandemic, whom the authorities called essential, who took care, who had to face the huge risks without protective equipment, and who continue to be the bargaining chip when it comes to companies winning. The revision of the directive cannot translate itself into worsening the working conditions," Jesus Gallegoa, International secretary of Spain's UGT union said.
Demonstrators demanded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reform the rules for awarding public contracts and thus improve the working conditions and wages of workers involved in these contracts.
The unions denounced public offers for tenders which they say are pushed towards the lowest prices while also requesting reforms to include a part on subcontractors, in order to prevent the public procurement directive from being circumvented.
"Workers need acceptable working conditions and adequate salaries, but this doesn't fit in with public procurement conditions: the first criteria is always the lowest price, and that's what we want to denounce today," another protester explained.
During the day, workers also demonstrated at Brussels and Charleroi airports in support of the main protest leading to disruption at both airports according to media reports.
A study from the union organisation UNI Europa from 2023 suggests that almost half of public contracts in the EU are awarded on the basis of the lowest price.
Hundreds of essential workers from several countries across the European Union held a protest in Brussels on Tuesday over EU regulations on their working conditions.
Footage shows protesters - among them cleaners, security and catering workers - waving union flags and banners reading 'Stop exploitation' and 'Respect our work', among others while demonstrating in the city centre.
"We are here for a large number of workers in Europe, who were the ones who had to stand up for themselves at the time of the pandemic, whom the authorities called essential, who took care, who had to face the huge risks without protective equipment, and who continue to be the bargaining chip when it comes to companies winning. The revision of the directive cannot translate itself into worsening the working conditions," Jesus Gallegoa, International secretary of Spain's UGT union said.
Demonstrators demanded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reform the rules for awarding public contracts and thus improve the working conditions and wages of workers involved in these contracts.
The unions denounced public offers for tenders which they say are pushed towards the lowest prices while also requesting reforms to include a part on subcontractors, in order to prevent the public procurement directive from being circumvented.
"Workers need acceptable working conditions and adequate salaries, but this doesn't fit in with public procurement conditions: the first criteria is always the lowest price, and that's what we want to denounce today," another protester explained.
During the day, workers also demonstrated at Brussels and Charleroi airports in support of the main protest leading to disruption at both airports according to media reports.
A study from the union organisation UNI Europa from 2023 suggests that almost half of public contracts in the EU are awarded on the basis of the lowest price.