On June 4th, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) published an updated position paper listing their proposals and demands regarding adequate income. The paper builds upon the previous work of EAPN and the EMIN Network and covers both adequate Minimum Income (MI) and fair Minimum Wages (MW), including living wages.

The poor and most vulnerable people in our societies have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Households in poverty and social exclusion, in particular, those with children have fewer and fewer options. As such, the COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the situation of families (among others) experiencing poverty, making the need for adequate income support more urgent than before.

As Eurodiaconia has been gathering evidence also within our membership, we share the insights that patients suffering from health conditions such as respiratory diseases, hypertension or diabetes are particularly vulnerable to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions are often associated with low income or other dimensions of social exclusion due to malnutrition, important health hazards in low-income jobs or unhealthy living conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic thus demonstrates the need to build on short-term income support to guarantee an adequate income to all, regardless of employment status.

Eurodiaconia joins EAPN’s push for adequate, accessible and enabling Minimum Income Schemes and to makes a case for an EU Framework Directive on Minimum Income – and we will also publish a updated version of our own proposal in the coming weeks.

 

You can find the EAPN’s position paper on their website.