Low Wages Leave 3Mln Workers Without Heating In Europe As Energy Prices Surge- Trade Union

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2021) Almost 3 million low-wage EU workers cannot afford to heat their homes as the bloc struggles to rein in rising energy prices, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said on Wednesday.

"There are millions of low paid workers in Europe who have to choose between heating their home or feeding their family properly or paying the rent despite working full time," ETUC deputy chief Esther Lynch said.

ETUC estimated that over 2.7 million people, or 15% of Europe's working poor, could not pay their heating bills, with winter approaching. The European Commission scrambled to address soaring natural gas prices brought on by a rise in post-lockdown demand.

The confederation called on the European Parliament to introduce a "threshold of decency" of no less than 60% of the median wage and 50% of the average wage of any member state. It said 20 EU nations had statutory minimum wages below this level.