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08.07.2016, Thomas Händel

TTIP - Jobs & Arbeitsrechte..?

HÄNDEL, Thomas (GUE/NGL, DE)

Während einige schon über das -vermeintliche- Ende von CETA jubeln, gehen die Verhandlungen zu TTIP unvermindert weiter. Besonders die europäische Seite zeigt sich wild entschlossen, noch vor Ende der Obama-Präsidentschaft, ein Abkommen zu erzielen.

Die Protagonisten argumentieren weiter mit der Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen und der Möglichkeit zur Verbesserung von Arbeitsstandards. 

Ich befürchte dagegen u.a. eine Spirale nach unten bei Arbeits- und Sozialrechten und erhebliche Arbeitsplatzverluste. 

Ein fertiges TTIP-Abkommen braucht sowohl die Zustimmung des Rates der Europäischen Union als auch die des Europäischen Parlaments. Für diese Debatte können wir zusätzliche Argumente gut brauchen.

Über den Beschäftigungsausschuss des Europaparlamentes (EMPL) habe ich deshalb beim Policy Service des Europa-Parlaments eine Studie zu "TTIP und Arbeitsstandards" und zu "TTIP und Arbeitsplätze" in Auftrag gegeben.

Die Studien liefern eine ganze Reihe von nützlichen Anregungen und Argumenten für die weitere Debatte. 

 

 

Negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have become an issue for heated debate. While supporters stress its potential for economic growth and for promoting labour standards worldwide, opponents point to increasing competition, the risk of a race-to-the-bottom in social protection and potential job losses. An agreement on TTIP, once drawn up by EU and US negotiators, would need the backing of the European Parliament and the EU Council to enter into force.

The EMPL Committee is following the negotiations. It contributed to the EP’s resolution of 8 July 2015 containing recommendations to the European Commission on the negotiations for the TTIP. On my request the Policy Department A supports the Committee’s work by providing tailor-made studies about TTIP and jobs, and TTIP and labour standards. Even if those studies do not fully reflect our political position regarding those trade agreements, they are full of arguments and evidence useful for further debates.

Please find both studies attached and online.

 

Abstract TTIP and Jobs

This Policy Department A study concludes that TTIP could lead to substantial reallocation of jobs between and within industries. As growing exporting firms pay higher wages than shrinking import-competing ones, average wages would go up. Employment effects are highly uncertain: they could be negative in the short run but positive in the long run. In any case, their magnitude is likely to be very small. Adjustment costs do not undo TTIP’s overall economic desirability, but they call for adequately funded trade adjustment programmes.

 

Abstract TTIP and Labour Standards

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will follow EU and US recent trade policy practice to include labour provisions. These could limit the risk that liberalisation results in social dumping and promote upward change. This Policy Department A study concludes that the EU could take a precautionary stance and employ various instruments that increase the chances that TTIP will have positive social consequences. TTIP may combine the strengths of the EU and US approaches to labour provisions, while improving their weaknesses. More analysis of the social consequences of liberalisation and labour provisions might be stimulated and strong flanking measures at the EU and national level be foreseen.

(Download nur in Englisch verfügbar)

 

Dateien zum Download: