Subject: Catering services in the Commission and protecting jobs
With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic the EU institutions scaled back the presence of their employees at the workplace. This resulted in an almost total halt in catering services for an extended period, which placed all the contractors supplying such services in serious difficulty. With the gradual return to normality, all the EU institutions are now restoring catering services in their canteens. However, owing to the reduced footfall, not everyone employed by the contractors will be able to keep their jobs. What is more, most of the employees concerned have been working for the EU institutions for many years, as the catering contracts include a clause designed to ensure that people already employed by the institutions hold on to their jobs.
When presenting its coronavirus response strategy, the Commission stated it was crucial not only to shield vital sectors of the EU’s economy but also, and above all, to protect jobs and workers.
In light of the above:
What kind of initiatives does the Commission plan to take to protect companies which have been working reliably with it for years and to safeguard the jobs of catering workers?
Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the European Commission
(22 December 2021)
The Commission did not end or halt its catering contracts, which naturally ended at the end of 2020. The Commission went beyond its contractual obligations and did what it could to help the caterers until the end of their contracts, notably by accepting to revise the originally agreed contractual concession fees (spending nearly EUR 1 million).
The former catering staff was from Belgian law companies, which could make use of Belgian social provisions in place due to the COVID-19 crisis, and thus preserve the rights of their workers. In order to support Members States during the pandemic, the Commission has put in place the NextGenerationEU Plan, a historic recovery plan.
However, the first obligation of the Commission remains to manage public funds in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and the general principles laid down in the Financial Regulation.
In view of the reopening of its catering, in line with the provisions foreseen in the Financial Regulation, the Commission launched in summer 2021 a call for tenders for catering services adapted to the future needs, which will lead to jobs in the sector.
In addition, it is important to note that Commission staff remain customers of the local restaurants, which is important for the local employment in all areas where the Commission has offices.
Lastly, the Commission notes that it is inaccurate to state that ‘the catering contracts include a clause designed to ensure that people already employed by the institutions hold on to their jobs’.
In fact, the conditions of potential transfers of staff between undertakings is a matter of national law and the Commission’s contracts do not interfere with the relevant provisions under Belgian law.