The proposal for a Directive on adequate minimum wages in Europe1 , formulated by the European Commission, has been preceded by several initiatives and debates concerning in-work poverty at the European Parliament (European Parliament, 2020 and 2019). The launch of this proposal must be seen as one of the outcomes ofthe European Pillar of Social Rights, which for the first time included in-work poverty per se in the social policy agenda, stating at the same time that ‘adequate minimum wages shall be ensured’ (principle n.6 European Pillar of Social Rights).