EU renegotiation: TUC urges Cameron to address causes not symptoms of Britain’s benefits bill

17 December 2015

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s presentation to EU leaders today (Thursday) of his proposals for reform ahead of the UK referendum on EU membership, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister’s proposal to stop in-work benefits for EU citizens working in the UK is putting the cart before the horse. If he wants to reduce benefit payments to low-paid migrant workers, he needs to get tough on low pay.

“What David Cameron should be discussing with his fellow European leaders is how to raise wages in Britain and the rest of the EU. That would reduce the in-work benefits bill. It would give British workers a fair day’s pay for an honest day’s work. It would mean people don’t feel forced to leave home and travel to another country just to get a decent wage. And it would support sustainable growth.

“The Prime Minister should not try to dodge EU laws against discrimination by making life harder for young British workers. Cutting in-work benefits for young Britons starting their careers in a bid to justify cutting them for migrant workers would be completely the wrong approach. Young workers of any nationality deserve decent work not exploitation. Instead of in-work benefit cuts the PM should focus on EU-wide action to tackle bad bosses.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Prime Minister will be attending the December European Council in Brussels today, and will be discussing his pre-referendum renegotiation agenda, as set out in his recent exchange of letters with Council President Donald Tusk.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews
 

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk