Minimum wage and the role of social partners in light of the EU Directive

The European Union’s Directive 2022/2041, which aims to establish an adequate minimum wage framework across Member States, represents – at least on paper - a pivotal step towards enhancing social protection and reducing inequality within the Union. As of November 15, 2024, the deadline for transposition has passed, yet only a few Member States have fully implemented the directive, while many assert that their existing wage-setting systems are already compliant. 

This seminar seeks to critically assess the implementation and impact of Directive 2022/2041 across diverse European jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the role of social partners in the establishment of minimum wage standards.

The seminar is organised into two macro sessions.

During the first one, legal scholars from different Member States, such as France, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Italy, will explore the various mechanisms of wage-setting in these countries, scrutinizing the interplay between government intervention, collective bargaining, and trade union influence. 

During the second one, the discussions will address key questions regarding the effectiveness of the directive’s provisions in ensuring adequate living wages, the challenges faced by social partners in influencing wage policies, and the broader implications for European labor markets. 

Through a comparative lens, the seminar aims to foster a deeper understanding of how different national models align with or diverge from the objectives set out in the EU directive, and to consider the future trajectory of minimum wage policies in Europe.

4:30pm Opening and Welcome 

Elena Gramano IEP@BU, Bocconi University 

4:45 pm First Session 

Speakers 

Gwenola Bargain University of Tours, France 

Nicola Countouris UCL, University College of London (remotely) 

Piotr Grzebyk University of Warsaw, Poland 

Emanuele Menegatti University of Bologna, Italy 

Vincenzo Pietrogiovanni University of Southern Denmark 

Debora Prüwer University of Hamburg, Germany 

6:00 pm Second Session

Round-table discussion on policy implications and Q&A A conversation among the speakers modereted by Pietro Galeone IEP@BU, with an intervention by Tito Boeri Bocconi University (remotely) 

Q&A session with students and participants will follow