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Living wages in international and European law

Author

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  • Reingard Zimmer

    (Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany)

Abstract

A number of countries worldwide provide for a statutory minimum wage. Generally speaking, however, it is not a living wage, although the right to a living wage is guaranteed in a variety of agreements under both international and European law. The Council of Europe’s European Social Charter (ESC), for example, codifies a living wage and, according to the case-law of its supervisory body, the level of 60 per cent of the net average wage is to be taken as the basis for appropriate remuneration. This article argues that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union also incorporates the right to a living wage, which should be at least 60 per cent of the net average wage. The Charter is legally binding for EU institutions, agencies and other bodies. Member States are bound only to the extent that the material scope of the relevant EU laws has been opened, which is the case when EU law is implemented or when obligations arising out of specific Union legislation are required for the relevant subject area, as will be explained in the article. In purely national situations nevertheless, values laid down in international law have to be observed when interpreting national laws.

Suggested Citation

  • Reingard Zimmer, 2019. "Living wages in international and European law," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 25(3), pages 285-299, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:25:y:2019:i:3:p:285-299
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258919873831
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lübker, Malte & Schulten, Thorsten, 2018. "WSI Minimum Wage Report 2018: Price inflation suppresses real minimum wage growth," WSI Reports 39e, The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Hans Böckler Foundation.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thorsten Schulten & Torsten Müller, 2019. "What’s in a name? From minimum wages to living wages in Europe," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 25(3), pages 267-284, August.
    2. Zimmer, Reingard, 2023. "Das Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz: Handlungsoptionen für Mitbestimmungsakteure und Gewerkschaften," HSI-Schriftenreihe, Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labour and Social Security Law (HSI), Hans Böckler Foundation, volume 48, number 303124.

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