The first step towards a Quality Jobs Act taken today by Vice-President Minzatu represents an opportunity to turn every job into a quality job.
The consultation launched today by the European Commission comes at a time when nearly one in five workers in Europe are in low-quality jobs with low pay and poor prospects.
Workers suffer the consequences of poor quality jobs but businesses do too. Research shows that poor quality jobs are exacerbating labour shortages which are damaging Europe's economy, with the industries finding it hardest to recruit workers paying 9% less on average than those least affected by the labour shortage.
The launch of the social partners’ consultation on a future Quality Jobs Act creates a real opportunity to deliver practical measures that workers will feel in their daily lives.
“Workers and their trade unions know what makes a job good or bad. This consultation is a chance to bring those realities into EU policymaking and to push for concrete improvements that every worker can feel,” said ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch.
The European Commission has announced it is consulting on action on issues including the following:
-
Algorithmic management and artificial intelligence (AI) at work;
-
Health and safety at work, including psychosocial risks;
-
Regulation of subcontracting;
-
A just transition, anticipation and management of change;
-
Labour inspection and enforcement.
Esther Lynch said: “The commitment by the Commission to deliver legislation to ensure quality jobs is of high importance. The issues on which the Commission is consulting shows that the voice of trade unions has already been heard loud and clear about the biggest issues affecting workers today. Now the important work starts in ensuring that we arrive at the solutions needed to genuinely fix those problems and ensure a quality job for every worker.
“However, the ETUC does not agree with the Commission’s approach on pension reforms or with broader ideas of 'simplification' in the Roadmap. These too often serve as a justification for weakening or removing workers’ rights. Any initiative to improve job quality must be matched with a commitment to protect and strengthen existing rights and standards - not dilute them.
“Today’s announcement opens the door for measures that deliver for working people: legislation and investments are needed to make sure that all jobs are quality jobs - in every sector and in every region. We expect to see the completed consultation on telework and the right to disconnect also translated into legislation.”
