The European trade union movement expresses its deep concerns and opposition to the Italian Government’s plans to restrict the right to peaceful protest, a pillar of any democratic society. Article 12 of the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights states clearly that “everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly”. The Italian Government’s plans to criminalise dissent would clearly be a violation of the Charter, as well as Italy’s own Constitution.

On World Press Freedom Day, the ETUC and the EFJ stand in solidarity with journalists and media workers everywhere and reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom across Europe. 

Today marks a historic day for workers' rights and corporate accountability as the European Parliament adopts the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. This directive is a historic breakthrough, heralding a new era of accountability and liability for businesses operating within the EU. The milestones include:

The political agreement reached last night at trilogue on banning forced labour products is an important step forward. 

On October 16, 2023, the European Parliament’s lead committees, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted, with an overwhelming majority, their position on the proposed on the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation. The ETUC joined forces with civil society organisations to urge the EU Council to speed up negotiations to adopt a General Approach. The letter outlines four core elements that must be included in the Council's position:

Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) - Updated Roadmap to mobilise ahead of the EU trialogue Discussed at the Executive Committee meeting of 27-28 October 2022 Summary of key messages Based on the ETUC key demands as adopted by the Executive Committee in December 2019 in the ETUC Position calling for a European Directive on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence and responsible business conduct[1], the ETUC position ‘Towards an EU law on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence: indicative roadmap for ETUC actions in 2021-2022’ (December 2021)[2] as well as the ETUC Position ‘ETUC initial analysis of the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and updated roadmap for ETUC actions in 2022-2023” (March 2022)[3], the ETUC Executive Committee is asked to discuss and take note of this (updated) position paper which provides in particular a summary of the main amendments the ETUC intends to put forward to the European Parliament and Member States and other stakeholders as well as an overview and update of the actions undertaken March 2022 and some suggestions for further actions in view of the EU trialogue which is likely to start in Q2 in 2023 at the earliest.

A new EU ban on good produced through forced labour is crucial to tackling the rise in the number of victims of modern slavery. The European Commission has proposed a prohibition on products found to have been made using forced labour from sale in the EU, whether they are made in the EU or in third countries. It comes after the International Labour Organisation (ILO) this week published new research showing there are 28 million people in forced labour around the world, including 3.3 million children.

We are happy to announce to you that European Commissioner Didier Reynders has agreed to meet trade unions and NGOs for a public Q&A session. Together with affiliated trade unions and NGOs (AK Europa, ÖGB, Friends of the Earth Europe, European Coalition for Corporate Justice, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, CCFD-Terre Solidaire), we have long called for a meeting with the Commissioner

We would like to remind you to join us on 1 June to discuss the importance of human rights due diligence, and how trade unions can influence company strategies for the benefit of workers and the environment. 

9 years after the Rana Plaza disaster, workers in Europe and in the world cannot wait any longer: the ETUC calls for zero tolerance for doing business in breach of human rights  Why? Because labour is not a commodity: workers’ life and security should not be negotiated nor put at risk by business models! 

ETUC initial analysis of the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and updated roadmap for ETUC actions in 2022- 2023 Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee meeting of 16-17 March 2022 European Commission finally proposed a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Towards an EU law on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence: indicative roadmap for ETUC actions in 2021-2022 As discussed and agreed at the ETUC Executive Committee of 8-9 December 2021 Summary of key messages

Open letter to President Von der Leyen: It is time for you to show leadership on the Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative Dear President Von der Leyen, As a coalition of civil society organisations, including national coalitions and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), who are actively working and engaging on the planned Commission proposal on a Sustainable Corporate Governance (SCG) initiative, we are writing to raise our strong concerns about the new delay to the publication of this initiative.

Brussels, 1 December 2021 To the ETUC NETLEX members To the members of the Labour and Internal Market Legislation Committee To the members of the Fundamental Rights and Litigation Advisory Group For information to the Member Organisations Dear Colleagues We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at the 25th Netlex Conference whether in Paris or online. For those participants attending virtually, please find the joining details for the Conference below:

ETUC resolution on a Child Guarantee Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee Meeting of 3-4 June 2021 Summary The aim of this document is to provide the ETUC inputs on the key elements of the European Commission’s proposal for a Child Guarantee. Such views have been discussed and developed within the trade union delegation participating at a dedicated hearing with European Social Partners in Autumn 2020, and further discussed with the ETUC permanent Committee on Social Protection.

Adopted by the Executive Committee at the meeting of 22-23 March 2021 The ETUC is seriously concerned about the Russian government’s lack of respect of fundamental freedoms, following the harsh repression of public protests.

Adopted at the Executive Committee 22-23 March 2021 The European Trade Union Confederation condemns the decision of the President of Turkey to pull his country out of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and considers it a devastating signal to women and girls in Turkey and across the world.

  ETUC Position for a European directive on mandatory Human Rights due diligence and responsible business conduct Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 17-18 December 2019 Key Messages

Brussels 18/12/2019  ETUC position on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade and Investment Protection Agreements  Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 17-18 December 2019 Background

  ETUC Position on a United Nations Treaty on Transnational Corporations Adopted at the Executive Committee on 25 – 26 June 2018