2. In order to help achieve the objective laid down in the first paragraph, the  Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c and  after consulting the Economic and Social Committee, shall adopt by means of  directives, minimum requirements for gradual implementation, having regard to the  conditions and technical rules obtaining in each of the Member States. ( * )

( * ) First subparagraph as amended by Article G( 33 ) TEU.

Such directives shall avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints  in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium  sized undertakings.

3. The provisions adopted pursuant to this Article shall not prevent any Member  State from maintaining or introducing more stringent measures for the protection of  working conditions compatible with this Treaty.

Article 118b

The Commission shall endeavour to develop the dialogue between management and  labour at European level which could, if the two sides consider it desirable, lead to  relations based on agreement.

Article 119

Each Member State shall during the first stage ensure and subsequently maintain the  application of the principle that men and women should receive equal pay for equal  work.

For the purpose of this Article, pay' means the ordinary basic or minimum wage or  salary and any other consideration, whether in cash or in kind, which the worker  receives, directly or indirectly, in respect of his employment from his employer.

Equal pay without discrimination based on sex means:

a. that pay for the same work at piece rates shall be calculated on the basis of the  same unit of measurement;
b. that pay for work at time rates shall be the same for the same job.

Article 120

Member States shall endeavour to maintain the existing equivalence between paid  holiday schemes.

Article 121

The Council may, acting unanimously and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee, assign to the Commission tasks in connection with the implementation of  common measures, particularly as regards social security for the migrant workers  referred to in Articles 48 to 51.

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