The Prospects of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages and the Knock-On Effect

Professor Massimiliano Delfino, University of Naples Federico II.

Trinity Centre for Constitutional Governance (TriCON) Lunchtime Seminar

Wednesday 18 June 2025, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Seminar Details

Speaker: Professor Massimiliano Delfino, University of Naples Federico II.

Chair: Professor Mark Bell, Trinity College Dublin

Venue, Date and Time: Room 11*, House 39, New Square, 1pm, Wednesday 18 June 2025.

Directive 2022/2241 is a beacon in the darkness of the EU's (apparent) lack of competence in the pay field. The same existence of the Directive seems to represent a change of attitude of the EU, which is well demonstrated by Recital 7 of the Directive itself: "Addressing large differences in the coverage and adequacy of minimum wage protection contributes to improving the fairness of the Union's labour market, to preventing and reducing wage and social inequalities, and to promoting economic and social progress and upward convergence". This approach seems to entail a different notion of competition in the single market that, again according to Recital 7, "should be based on high social standards, including a high level of worker protection and the creation of quality jobs, as well as on innovation and improvements in productivity while ensuring a level playing field". For now, the only thing to do is to wait for the judgment of the Court of Justice, hoping that it will reject the challenge to the Directive raised by Denmark. The Directive is not the perfect solution since it has some defects. Nevertheless, if not declared null, it could be the occasion for the EU to change direction in the sense of a better balance between social protection and competition, with some unsuspected positive and negative effects.