How to make the most of the European Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages: a guide for trade unions

After years of austerity and a 'race to the bottom' on labour costs, the EU adopted the European Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages (EMWD) in 2022 in an attempt to reshape work standards by targeting wage inequality and strengthening collective bargaining across all 27 Member States.

However, two years later, the deadline for transposition into national law has passed, with only six countries having taken concrete action by publishing a draft legislation. Some, among them Germany, have even declared no need to act at all. Another integral EMWD milestone is coming up in 2025: Member States with bargaining coverage below 80% (currently 19) must publish National Action Plans on how to achieve the common goals by 2030. Until then, much remains to be done and trade unions can play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Directive.

Using the EMWD's powerful tools

With financial support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, IndustriAll Europe has published comprehensive guidelines to help national unions harness the instruments laid out in the EMWD. The guide focuses on strengthening collective bargaining systems, tackling union-busting and wage discrimination mechanisms, curbing the rise of undemocratic ‘yellow unions’, and introducing modern capacity-building tools. It also addresses measures to create meaningful Action Plans.

The focus lies on Central and Eastern Europe, where union density and bargaining power face systemic challenges and the increasing erosion of social dialogue. A collection of best practices and successful initiatives aims to inspire actions all across the EU. By equipping unions with practical tools, the EMWD guidelines support the Directive’s implementation and help advance the EU’s vision of a stronger, fairer workforce by 2030.

Read the guidelines here.

For detailed insights into the Directive’s ongoing implementation and collective bargaining systems across all 27 Member States, visit the ETUC’s monitoring tool, also created in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.