The European Commission has published a new report setting out a number of actions in response to the main opportunities and challenges faced by aircrews (pilots and cabin crew) in Europe, namely determining pilots as self-employed.
The measures include: setting up an ad hoc group of experts to advise the Commission and Member States on how labour law may be enforced appropriately in aviation; exploring ways to tackle undeclared work in the aviation sector, with a special focus on bogus self-employment of aircrews and cross-border collaboration between competent authorities; ensuring that airlines’ safety management systems take into account all forms of employment and working arrangements, including staff employed via intermediaries and those who are self-employed; organising a high-level workshop to take stock of progress made on the social agenda for aircrews since 2015, and to help identify possible ways forward; sharing of best practices for attracting and retaining women in aircrews by aviation stakeholders.
The Commission states that recent developments in the aviation sector – increased competition, automation and digitalisation – also had an impact on the work force, notably through the development of atypical forms of employment. This has led to legal uncertainty and the risk of disrupting the level playing field among airlines (for example, the use of employment via intermediaries makes it sometimes difficult for aircrew to identify their employer and to establish the applicable law).
There is extensive EU legislation in place to protect workers, including aircrews. The EU believes that more clarity on the application of these rules to complex situations will improve legal certainty for workers and employers in the sector, while also improving the enforcement of EU and national rules by national authorities and courts.
Access the full report here: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/com20190120.pdf