Earlier this month, our partner the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) released a Compendium of Promising Practices called “Combatting In-Work Poverty”.
While poverty and social issues have increased visibility at the EU level, for instance with the European Semester and the adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) or the Social Fairness Package, the focus has been driven on employment as the main way out of poverty. This is clearly missing key indicators, such as a decent level of wages.
The EAPN emphasises the need for a debate extending to the quality and sustainability of the jobs provided. Indeed, while the employment rate was achieving its highest rate ever recorded for the EU, many people experience poverty despite having a job. In fact, in 2017 9.6% of the people in employment were living under the poverty threshold, corresponding to over 32 million workers at risk of poverty. In total, in-work poverty increased by 1.1% between 2008 and 2017 in the EU (Eurostat 2018).
In order to share knowledge, the EAPN addresses in this Compendium promising practices to tackle in-work poverty, whether they are policy, projects or campaigns.
Eurodiaconia is a member of the EAPN and is actively working on providing social and healthcare services. Eurodiaconia advocates social justice and quality employment to tackle poverty and in-work poverty. In this respect, Eurodiaconia organises a Webinar on March 21th on Active Support to Employment & the Social Pillar (for members only).
To read more about EAPN’s Compendium “Combatting In-Work Poverty”.
To know more about our webinar check the invitation and agenda. To register to the webinar, please fill in the online form by Friday the 15th March 2019.