Brussels recommends EU countries to increase the minimum vital income

BRUSELAS, 28 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Commission on Wednesday urged the Member States to modernize their minimum vital income by increasing the economic endowment to fight poverty and social exclusion in Europe in a context of previous high energy levels due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.

In a recommendation to the Twenty-seven, the Community Executive has proposed that the EU countries raise the minimum income to guarantee social inclusion and promote the integration into the labor market of those who can work but have serious difficulties finding a job.

At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, it will be important this autumn for member states to modernize their social safety nets with a focus on active inclusion to help those most in need. of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, in a statement.

The minimum vital income is articulated as a series of payments that help households that need it to close the gap up to a certain level of income to have a decent life. In this framework, Brussels has recommended improving incentives to promote integration in the labor market as well as investment in training and education.

In addition, the Community Executive has recommended improving the transparency of the minimum vital income system, that the financial endowment of the support be reviewed and adjusted annually, that the decision to grant or not this aid be communicated within 30 days from the request. and, if it is granted, that an individualized inclusion plan be provided to the beneficiary within a period of three months.

In this sense, Brussels has drawn attention to the importance of this instrument during "economic recessions", since it helps cushion the fall in household income of vulnerable people and contributes to inclusive growth.

"More than one in five people in the EU are at risk of poverty and social exclusion", explained the Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, who clarified that all Member States have minimum vital income schemes but they do not always "reach all those in need".

The minimum vital income is thus configured as an active tool to improve the prospects of access to employment and, as the Community Executive has pointed out, if it is well designed, this tool allows alleviating poverty, encouraging labor integration with some sustainable budget costs.

The European Commission has recommended that the design of this minimum income take advantage of the job opportunities of the green and digital transitions and that the beneficiaries have access to social services such as health and education and essential services such as electricity or water.

With this proposal, Brussels intends to achieve the goal that by 2030 the number of people at risk of poverty and exclusion has been reduced by at least 15 million people, as established in the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights and that 78% of the European population aged 20 to 64 is employed.

The Community Executive has presented a proposal to protect people and the environment from asbestos both in the health field and in labor protection, since it is responsible for many preventable deaths in the EU.

The package presented by Brussels includes a proposal to modify the directive on asbestos at work to improve the protection of employees and reduce their exposure to this substance.

The other leg of the European Commission's proposal consists of a communication to address asbestos in a comprehensive manner and improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by it, as well as the identification, elimination and treatment of asbestos waste.

Despite the fact that all uses of asbestos have been prohibited in the EU since 2005, this substance is still present in buildings and poses a threat to health.