Employment Policy in the EU

Latest news on employment policy in the European Union.

Brussels looks to strengthen equality bodies to fight discrimination — 08 December 2022, 21:58 CET

The Commission adopted two proposals Wednesday to strengthen equality bodies, specifically their independence, resources and powers, so that they can combat discrimination in Europe more effectively.

Equality bodies - Bodies for the promotion of equal treatment and non-discrimination — 07 December 2022, 23:08 CET

Equality bodies promote equal treatment by providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination, conducting independent surveys, publishing independent reports and making recommendations on matters relating to discrimination.

EU green light for gender balance targets on company boards — 22 November 2022, 18:52 CET

By July 2026, big publicly-listed EU firms will need to increase women’s presence at their helm, following the EU Parliament's formal adoption Tuesday of a law on gender balance on corporate boards.

Pact for Skills — 10 November 2022, 18:08 CET

The Pact for Skills is one of the flagship actions of the European Skills Agenda. The Pact aims to support public and private organisations with upskilling and reskilling, so they can thrive through the green and digital transitions. Members of the Pact have access to knowledge on upskilling and reskilling needs, advice on relevant funding instruments to boost the skills of adults in their regions and countries, and partnership opportunities within our growing community.

EU opens way to collective bargaining for the self-employed — 04 October 2022, 18:37 CET

The European Commission adopted guidelines Thursday on the application of EU competition law to collective agreements regarding the working conditions of solo self-employed people.

Improving working conditions in platform work - guide — 29 September 2022, 22:43 CET

The European Commission proposed on 29 September a set of measures to improve the working conditions in platform work and to support the sustainable growth of digital labour platforms in the EU.

Guidelines on collective agreements of self-employed people - guide — 29 September 2022, 22:24 CET

The European Commission adopted on 29 September Guidelines on the application of EU competition law to collective agreements ('‘Guidelines') regarding the working conditions of solo self-employed people.

Brussels moves to ban products made with forced labour from EU market — 14 September 2022, 22:58 CET

The EU Commission published Wednesday a legislative proposal which will effectively prohibit the placing on the EU market of products made with forced labour, as well as their export from the EU.

Prohibition of products made by forced labour in the Union Market - guide — 14 September 2022, 22:54 CET

The European Commission proposed on 14 September to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market. The proposal covers all products, namely those made in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries.

New EU rules on work-life balance enter into force — 03 August 2022, 23:23 CET

New EU-wide rules to improve work-life balance for parents entered into force on Tuesday, setting minimum standards for paternity, parental leave and offering the right to request flexible working.

New rules to better protect children caught in cross-border parental disputes - guide — 02 August 2022, 22:39 CET

New EU rules on cooperation between judicial authorities on cross-border disputes, such as custody, parental rights and child abduction ('Brussels IIb Regulation') came into force on 1 August 2022. The Regulation updates the existing rules on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial and parental responsibility matters to better protect the needs of the child.

European Accessibility Act - guide — 28 June 2022, 23:20 CET

28 June 2022 marked the deadline for EU Member States to transpose the European Accessibility Act into national law. The Act breaks down barriers for persons with disabilities, one of the EU's obligations as Party to the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Act ensures that everyone has access to a range of everyday products and services, including public transport, banking services, computers, TV, e-books, and online shopping.

EU, MEPs agree one-year extension for COVID Certificate — 14 June 2022, 21:52 CET

Negotiating teams from the European Parliament and EU Council agreed Monday to keep the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework in place for another year, until June 2023.

EU reaches political agreement on adequate minimum wage — 07 June 2022, 21:33 CET

The European Parliament and EU Member States reached political agreement Tuesday on EU rules to set adequate minimum wages, as provided by national law and/or collective agreements.

EU to recognise COVID-19 as occupational disease — 23 May 2022, 17:26 CET

Member States, workers and employers in an EU advisory health committee reached agreement Wednesday on the need to recognise COVID-19 as an occupational disease in health and social care.

EU looks to legal migration to help meet skills needs — 27 April 2022, 22:52 CET

The EU Commission proposed Wednesday a set of legal, operational and policy initiatives to improve migration management to the benefit of the EU economy and strengthen cooperation with non-EU countries.

Attracting skills and talent to the EU - guide — 27 April 2022, 22:26 CET

The European Commission set out on 27 April a sustainable legal migration policy, proposing legal, operational and policy initiatives to benefit the EU's economy, strengthen cooperation with non-EU countries and improve overall migration management in the long term. The set of proposals also includes specific actions to facilitate integration of those fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine into the EU's labour market.

EU strengthens protection of workers from dangerous chemicals — 03 March 2022, 22:47 CET

EU ministers gave the final green light Thursday for amendments to the carcinogens and mutagens directive, an EU law which protects workers from exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances.

EU selects 50 women-led companies to boost deep-tech in Europe — 02 March 2022, 23:01 CET

The EU Commission announced Tuesday the results of the first call under the Women TechEU pilot programme, which supports deep-tech start-ups led by women with mentoring and funding.

Women TechEU — 01 March 2022, 20:27 CET

Funded under the European Innovation Ecosystems work programme of Horizon Europe, Women TechEU offers first-class coaching and mentoring to female founders, as well as targeted funding to help take their business to the next level. Women TechEU targets early-stage deep tech start-ups founded, or co-founded, by women holding a top management position (CEO, CTO or equivalent) in the company at the time of submission. The company must be registered and established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country for at least six months at the time of the submission.

EU due diligence law to make corporate governance more sustainable — 25 February 2022, 17:09 CET

The European Commission unveiled its long-awaited proposal Wednesday for an EU law that establishes a corporate sustainability due diligence duty on companies over a certain size.

MEPs give green light to reform of road haulage charging — 18 February 2022, 22:50 CET

The EU Parliament gave its final approval Thursday to new rules on road charges for trucks, which will move from time-based to distance-based charging, making polluter-pays principles work better.

European workers to gain better protection against cancer-causing chemicals — 21 December 2021, 22:41 CET

EU employment ministers and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal Thursday to better protect workers from risks related to their exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances.

EU outlines plans for more inclusive, sustainable gig economy — 14 December 2021, 21:34 CET

The EU Commission presented a plan Thursday to tap in to the economic and job-creation potential of the gig economy, which it says can play a key role in a fair and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.

Social Economy Action Plan — 09 December 2021, 22:55 CET

The European Commission has today presented an Action Plan to help the European social economy thrive, tapping into its economic and job-creation potential, as well as its contribution to a fair and inclusive recovery, and the green and digital transitions.