Workers are largely missing from the 2025 work programme published today by the European Commission, which is too narrowly focused on gambling that ‘simplification’ alone will improve competitiveness rather than making the necessary investments.
We welcome that the Work Programme includes a commitment to “ensure quality jobs with decent working conditions, high standards for health and safety and collective bargaining” though a quality jobs package. However, this is currently ‘non-legislative’. The ETUC calls for a Just Transition Directive to be put forward as a matter of urgency to manage change through social dialogue and collective bargaining and prevent job losses.
It is the first time since 2019, in the final few months of the Juncker Commission, that the work programme has not contained any new social legislation. By contrast, the Commission has proposed eight pieces of ‘simplification’ legislation over the next year.
A quality jobs package is needed and must include regulation and limits on the length of subcontracting chains, simplified public procurement rules that privilege companies with collective agreements instead of a race to the bottom, and a directive to prevent stress at work, a directive to ensure the respect of the right to disconnect, and a directive on AI in the world of work.
Commenting on the work programme, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“Trade unions fully support the need to make European companies and the economy more competitive so that there are more quality jobs, better working conditions and higher pay. The European social model, high levels of collective bargaining and high standards, contribute to Europe’s competitive advantage. It would be a mistake to throw the baby out with the bath water.
“This work programme contains plans for measures on affordable energy that could genuinely help companies struggling with high costs. However, we don’t believe that the raft of ‘simplification’ measures included in this programme is what will make a difference to companies facing high energy prices and the threat of tariffs, against the background of Member States’ austerity measures. It is a mistake to pin all our hopes on simplification.
“The ETUC is also concerned that this work programme does not currently include legislation needed to address the major challenges posed by the need to decarbonisation or the ongoing digital transformation of work.
“The Commission wants to improve skills but the 2023 EU year of skills taught us is that without providing the right to paid time off for training, the vast majority of workers cannot seize the opportunities offered. That’s why a Just Transition Directive which gives workers the right to paid training during working hours is required.
“At a time when 100,000 job losses have been announced in our industries and people are still struggling with the cost of living, working people simply won’t understand why this plan that does not include any legislation to protect their jobs, improve their working conditions or raise their pay.”
