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22 AWEMainta .com Diahuebs, 23 September 2021
INTERN A TION AL
Nearly three million European Union workers
can’t afford heating, says trade body
Nearly three million European Union workers The ETUC said the study was based on data from the EU’s statistic
agency. - Copyright Steve Nagy/Belleville News-Democrat, via AP
cannot afford to heat their homes amid a rise in
energy prices, a new study has found.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
said that 15% of the EU’s working poor lacks
enough money to turn on the heating.
The report released on Wednesday found that
issue affects the equivalent of 2,713,578 people.
Wholesale prices for gas and electricity have The confederation said that 20 EU members currently
surged across Europe, raising the prospect of have statutory minimum wages that fall below those
increases in already high utility bills and further levels.
pain for people who took a financial hit during the
COVID-19 pandemic. ETUC said Cyprus has the highest percentage of
working poor (45.6%) who can’t afford heating, ahead
"There are millions of low-paid workers in Europe of Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal, Greece, and Italy.
who have to choose between heating their home The organisation also said the situation has worsened
or feeding their family properly or paying the rent in 10 member states over the last decade and that
despite working full time," said ETUC Deputy the recent hike in energy prices is putting even more
General Secretary Esther Lynch. workers at risk of falling into energy poverty.
“Unfortunately, rising energy prices mean even
more people face returning from a long day or EU transportation and energy ministers met on
night’s work to a cold home this winter and their Wednesday in Slovenia to discuss the EU’s “Fit for 55”
children doing their homework in the cold.” climate and energy package.
The initiative is designed to help the 27-nation bloc
The ETUC called on Brussels to introduce a reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030
“threshold of decency” in a draft minimum wage compared to 1990 levels.
directive.
The union confederation called on the European Earlier this month, the EU vice president in charge of
Union to guarantee that statutory minimum wages climate issues said the bloc should ensure that the most
never pay less than 60% of the median wage and vulnerable people won’t pay the heaviest price of the
50% of the average wage of any EU member state. transition to renewable energy sources
BBC News (World) @CNN International @euronewsgreen
Air pollution is even more Haitian migrants cross the One positive has
dangerous than previously Rio Grande River back and emerged from the A
devastation of wildfires:
forth between Mexico and
thought, the US as @MattRiversCNN tiny algae plant has flourished, with
World Health Organization warns reports the crisis at the US-Mexico potentially great benefits for the
border is deepening. environment.
