Employment Policy in the EU

Latest news on employment policy in the European Union.

EU looks to tackle Europe's gender pay gap — 07 December 2021, 17:19 CET

EU employment ministers agreed their position Monday on a draft law on pay transparency which will help to tackle the existing pay discrimination at work and contribute to closing the gender pay gap.

EU agrees provisional deal on use of hired lorries — 28 October 2021, 22:45 CET

Negotiators from the EU Council and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement Tuesday on revised rules to ease current restrictions on the use of hired vehicles for goods transport.

EU Blue Card to attract highly skilled workers to Europe — 11 October 2021, 18:45 CET

The EU Council and Parliament gave their final approval Thursday to the revised Blue Card Directive, a new scheme to respond to skills shortages and attract highly skilled workers from outside the EU.

Employers can ban hijab at work, rules EU Court — 20 July 2021, 22:18 CET

An employer may ban the wearing of the Muslim hijab at work, the EU Court of Justice ruled Thursday, there is a need to present a neutral image towards customers or to prevent social disputes.

EU prepares for coordinated return of cultural activities — 30 June 2021, 18:38 CET

The European Commission published EU guidelines Tuesday to ensure a coordinated approach to the safe resumption of activities in the cultural and creative sectors across the EU.

EU plans upgrade for occupational health and safety — 28 June 2021, 19:18 CET

A new strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027, adopted Monday by the European Commission, sets out key actions needed to improve workers' health and safety over the coming years.

EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027 — 28 June 2021, 19:21 CET

The European Commission moved to update occupational safety and health rules on 28 June by adopting the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027. This sets out the key actions needed to improve workers' health and safety over the coming years.

EU agrees new draft rules for highly skilled migrant workers — 18 May 2021, 18:48 CET

The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional deal Tuesday on new rules for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU under the revised Blue Card Directive.

Equal pay: pay transparency measures to ensure equal pay for equal work — 04 March 2021, 17:51 CET

The European Commission presented on 4 March a proposal on pay transparency to ensure that women and men in the EU get equal pay for equal work.

Brussels looks to close gap on equal pay — 09 March 2021, 23:28 CET

The Commission has presented a proposal on pay transparency to ensure that women and men in the EU get equal pay for equal work, including a right to know pay levels for workers doing the same work.

MEPs greenlight EU's EUR 672.5 bn stimulus funding — 11 February 2021, 21:50 CET

The European Parliament gave the green light Wednesday to EUR 672.5 billion in grants and loans from a 'Recovery and Resilience' fund to help EU countries tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recovery and Resilience Facility — 10 February 2021, 14:10 CET

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU to help the EU emerge stronger and more resilient from the current crisis. The Facility will make EUR 672.5 billion in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States. The aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.

EU disburses EUR 14 bn to help fight social impact of Covid — 02 February 2021, 23:46 CET

The EU Commission disbursed EUR 14 billion to nine Member States Tuesday in the fourth instalment of financial support to Member States to help alleviate the social impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

MEPs vote for 'right to disconnect' from work — 26 January 2021, 21:44 CET

The European Parliament called Thursday for an EU law to define minimum requirements for remote working including a right to digitally disconnect from work without facing negative repercussions.

EU steps up efforts to tackle gender pay gap — 03 December 2020, 21:54 CET

The EU Council called on the Commission and EU member states Thursday to make greater efforts to reduce the gender pay gap and gender gaps in care, and to combat gender stereotypes.

MEPs call for EU-wide right to 'disconnect' from work — 02 December 2020, 22:14 CET

Disconnecting from work should be a fundamental right, the European Parliament's Employment Committee said Wednesday, with MEPs calling for a bill which would grant this right to all EU workers.

Brussels outlines plan for inclusion of migrants — 25 November 2020, 16:50 CET

A new plan on Integration and Inclusion for 2021-2027, unveiled by the EU Commission Tuesday, addresses barriers that hinder participation and inclusion of people with a migrant background in European society.

EU states receive EUR 14 bn pandemic help — 19 November 2020, 17:27 CET

As the second COVID wave hits Europe hard, the EU Commission Tuesday disbursed some EUR 14 billion to nine EU countries in the second instalment of loans to help finance short-time work schemes.

Brussels outlines EU's first-ever LGBTIQ strategy — 15 November 2020, 17:01 CET

The Commission presented Thursday an EU Strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) equality, aimed at combating homophobia and transphobia within the Union.

Covid crisis needs adequate minimum wages, says EC — 03 November 2020, 00:16 CET

The European Commission proposed Wednesday a new directive to ensure that EU workers are protected by adequate minimum wages allowing for a decent living during the COVID crisis.

Adequate minimum wages - background guide — 28 October 2020, 23:13 CET

The European Commission proposes on 28 October an EU Directive to ensure that the workers in the Union are protected by adequate minimum wages allowing for a decent living wherever they work.

Strong take-up of EUR 17 bn inaugural EU 'social bonds' — 27 October 2020, 00:31 CET

There was strong investor interest in the EUR 17 billion inaugural 'social bonds' issued Wednesday under the EU's 'SURE' instrument, set up to help protect jobs and keep people in work over the pandemic.

EU SURE social bonds first issue — 21 October 2020, 23:53 CET

The European Commission issued a EUR 17 billion inaugural social bond on 21 October under the EU SURE instrument to help protect jobs and keep people in work.

EU states look to coordinate COVID travel measures — 13 October 2020, 17:07 CET

The EU adopted Tuesday a common framework on travel measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with recommendations to help states take decisions based on the epidemiological situation region by region.

EU to issue EUR 100bn social bonds to protect jobs — 08 October 2020, 16:29 CET

The EU Commission announced Wednesday that it will issue its forthcoming SURE bonds of up to EUR 100 billion - designed to help protect jobs and keep people in work through the pandemic - as social bonds.