Summaries of EU legislation
Employment and social policy
European society is evolving due to factors such as technological progress, globalisation and an ageing population. Crucially, it was also heavily impacted by the economic and financial crisis of 2008 and its fall-out.
European employment, social affairs and equal opportunities policies aim to improve living conditions by promoting employment, sustainable growth and greater social cohesion.
The EU is a catalyst in social change, seeking to increase employment and worker mobility, improve the quality of jobs and working conditions, inform and consult workers, combat poverty and social exclusion, promote equal opportunities and combat discrimination, as well as modernise social protection systems.
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European employment strategy
- COVID-19 crisis — recommendations on effective active support to employment
- Youth Guarantee
- InvestEU Programme (2021-2027)
- Guidelines on employment policies
- Flexicurity — a crucial element in modernising the EU’s labour market
- European Fund for Strategic Investments
- European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
- EURES: Job search services across the EU
- EU umbrella programme for employment and social policy: EaSI
- EU countries’ employment policies: guidelines (2018)
- Enhanced cooperation between public employment services
- Employment Committee
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Skills & vocational education and training
- Cooperation in vocational education and training (VET)
- Mutual learning programme
- Job creation potential in the environmental sector
- Modernising vocational education and training in Europe
- Generating entrepreneurship in education and training
- Europass — supporting learning and working in Europe
- Ensuring quality in vocational education and training (VET)
- Education systems — the key to a skilled workforce and more jobs
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Health & safety at work
- Health and safety at work: exposure to noise
- Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities
- The EU’s Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
- Preventing injuries to healthcare workers: EU social partners' agreement
- Preventing and reducing chemically induced illnesses and injuries at work
- Lifting COVID-19 containment measures — roadmap
- Health and safety of workers: conditions applicable to the workplace
- Health and safety at work — general rules
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Workplaces & equipment
- Equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX)
- Work with display screen equipment
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Temporary and mobile work sites
- Safety at work - manual handling of loads
- Provision of health and safety signs at work
- Medical treatment on board vessels
- Minimum health and safety standards while using work equipment
- Health and safety of workers in the extractive industries
- Fishing vessels — health and safety of workers on board
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Chemical, physical & biological agents
- Dangers arising from ionising radiation (from 2018)
- Setting basic safety standards for exposure to ionising radiation (from 2018)
- Risk of explosive atmospheres
- Protection of workers from exposure to biological agents
- Limiting the exposure of workers to risks from electromagnetic fields (from July 2016)
- Exposure to mechanical vibration
- Exposure to chemical agents
- Exposure to carcinogens and mutagens
- Exposure to asbestos: worker protection
- Exposure to artificial optical radiation
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Labour law
- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
- Transparent and predictable working conditions in the EU
- Proportionality test for new regulation of professions
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Protection of specific categories of workers
- Equal treatment of temporary agency workers
- Workplace health and safety for temporary workers
- Reintegrating the long-term unemployed into the labour market
- Protection of young people at work
- Part-time work
- Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers
- Making fishing at sea a safer profession
- Making decent working conditions a reality for domestic workers
- ILO Forced Labour Protocol: ratification by EU countries
- Fixed-term work
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Working conditions
- Employee protection in the event of an insolvent employer
- Stepping up the enforcement of EU legislation on the posting of workers
- Teleworking
- Organisation of working time
- Protecting employment rights when business ownership is transferred
- Informing employees of their working conditions
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Working time rules
- Cross-border train crews — working conditions
- Working hours on board ships using EU ports
- Workers’ health and safety in the mineral-extracting industries
- Seafarers’ working time
- Work-life balance for parents and carers
- Road transport: EU rules on the organisation of the working time of professional drivers
- Inland waterway transport – jobs and skills
- Driving time and rest periods in the road transport sector
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Protection against discrimination
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Equality between women and men
- Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
- Social security — equal treatment for men and women
- Self-employment — equal treatment between men and women
- Work-life balance for parents and carers
- Principle of equal treatment of men and women outside the employment market
- Parental leave
- Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers
- Gender equality in the labour market
- European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
- EU accession to Istanbul Convention
- Equal treatment in employment and occupation
- Work-life balance
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Other forms of discrimination at work
- Accessibility of products and services
- Roma equality, inclusion and participation
- Protection at international level of the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities
- National Roma integration strategies: common European framework
- Equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin
- Directive implementing the Marrakesh Treaty in the EU
- Accessibility of public sector websites and mobile apps
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Equality between women and men
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Social inclusion & social protection
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Social investment — Fight against poverty
- COVID-19 crisis — recommendations on effective active support to employment
- Sport — a spur to innovation and excellence
- Social security system — Cooperation between EU countries
- Towards more socially inclusive growth in the EU
- Monitoring the effectiveness of EU countries’ social protection policies
- Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage
- Guidelines on employment policies
- Innovation and social inclusion through culture and creativity
- EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee
- EU fight against poverty and social exclusion
- Coordination of social security systems
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Pensions & health care
- European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)
- Supplementary pensions - keeping your rights when moving abroad
- The EU’s healthcare workforce
- Safeguarding supplementary pension rights
- Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)
- Managing collective retirement schemes — occupational pension funds
- Healthcare in other EU countries — patients’ rights
- Insurance and occupational pensions: advisory committee
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Social investment — Fight against poverty
- Social dialogue & employee participation
- Moving & working in the EU
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Agencies
- Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
- The EU’s Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
- European Training Foundation (ETF)
- European Labour Authority
- European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
- European Foundation for Living and Working Conditions
- European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
- Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH)
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Funding
- An investment plan for Europe
- Thematic objectives for the ESI Funds
- Temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak (SURE)
- REACT-EU — Recovery assistance for cohesion and the territories of Europe
- InvestEU Programme (2021-2027)
- Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD)
- European Social Fund Plus — ESF+ (2021-2027)
- European Social Fund
- European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (2021-2027)
- European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020)
- European Fund for Strategic Investments
- EU umbrella programme for employment and social policy: EaSI
- EU Recovery and Resilience Facility
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European statistics
- Common rules for the collection of census data on population and housing
- Statistics related to vocational training
- Statistics on public health/health & safety at work
- Statistics on earnings and labour costs
- Quarterly statistics on job vacancies in EU countries
- European statistics on persons and households
- European system of integrated social protection statistics (ESSPROS)
- Demography statistics
- Comparable EU-wide labour cost statistics
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Archived summaries
- 2008 Report on Industrial Relations in Europe
- 2009 Ageing Report
- 2009 “Employment in Europe” Report
- 2006 Report on Industrial Relations in Europe
- A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU
- A European Private Company Statute
- A budget for Europe (2014-2020)
- A framework strategy for non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all
- A concerted strategy for modernising social protection
- A European initiative for growth
- A comprehensive approach contributing to making work pay
- A new framework for the open coordination of social protection and inclusion policies
- A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (2005)
- A proactive competition policy for a competitive Europe
- A stronger partnership to deliver market access
- Access to financing for businesses
- A safe and healthy work environment
- Action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006)
- Active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market
- Addressing the EU’s job concerns in 2015
- Action plan in favour of environmental technologies
- Agenda for jobs and workers’ skills
- Agenda for social policy (2000-2005)
- An innovation-friendly, modern Europe
- Balanced participation of women and men in family and working life
- Balanced participation of women and men in the decision-making process
- Building an inclusive Europe
- Bulgaria
- Childcare - work/life balance for men and women
- Burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sex
- Challenges for the European Information Society beyond 2005
- Cohesion Policy in support of growth and jobs - Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-13
- Code of practice to clamp down on sexual harassment at work
- Combating social security fraud and undeclared work (Code of conduct)
- Communication on the future of the European Employment Strategy (2003)
- Communication on the practical implementation of directives on health and safety at work
- Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of Workers
- Community programme encouraging cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion (2002-2006)
- Community programme for employment and solidarity - PROGRESS (2007-2013)
- Community strategy on health and safety at work (2002-2006)
- Community strategy on health and safety at work (2007-2012)
- Consumer access to basic payment accounts
- Corporate social responsibility: a business contribution to sustainable development.
- Corporate social responsibility: European strategy 2011-2014
- Council Recommendation on the implementation of Member States' employment policies (2004)
- Croatia – Employment and Social Affairs
- Cyprus
- Dangers arising from ionising radiation
- Development of high-quality, accessible and sustainable health care and long-term care
- Development of micro-credit
- Development of relations between the Commission and civil society
- Developing Public Private Partnerships
- Digital Agenda for Europe
- Education and skills agenda for young people
- Employment in Europe Report - 2006
- Employment in Europe Report 2007
- Employment in rural areas: closing the jobs gap
- Employment policy guidelines (2005-2008)
- Employment policy guidelines (2008-2010)
- Enhanced EU cooperation in vocational education and training
- Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue in an enlarged Europe
- ERDF: European Regional Development Fund
- EQUAL
- Equal opportunities for people with disabilities
- Equal opportunities for people with disabilities: a European action plan (2004-2010)
- Equal treatment of self-employed workers (until 2012)
- Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
- Equal opportunities report 2001
- Equal pay
- Equal treatment as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion
- Estonia
- ESF: European Social Fund.
- EU action to ensure a safe and healthy workplace
- EU countries’ employment policies: guidelines
- EU statistics on income and living conditions
- EU’s strategy for jobs and growth - progress on Europe 2020
- Europe 2020: the European Union strategy for growth and employment
- EURES - the EU’s job mobility portal
- Europe's response to world ageing
- Europass - greater mobility for learning and working in Europe
- European Commitment for Employment
- European Disability Strategy (2010-2020)
- European Employment Observatory (EEO)
- European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET)
- European cross-industry social dialogue
- European Foundation for Living and Working Conditions
- European Fund for Refugees (2000-2004)
- European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010)
- European industrial policy
- European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2007-2013)
- European system for registration of carriers of radioactive materials (Proposal)
- European schedule of occupational diseases
- European Social Fund support for the European Employment Strategy
- European Year of People with Disabilities 2003
- European values in a globalised world
- European Works Council
- European Year for Active Ageing (2012)
- European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010)
- European Year of Education through Sport 2004
- Innovation Union
- Global Europe: Competing in the world
- i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs
- Hungary
- Green Paper: A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy
- Green Paper "Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations"
- Iceland – Employment and social policy
- Green Paper on corporate social responsibility
- Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law
- Exposure to asbestos
- Exposure to biological agents
- Exposure to electromagnetic fields
- Extending the benefits of the social dimension of globalisation to all
- Fourth United Nations Conference on Women
- Fostering structural change: an industrial policy for an enlarged Europe
- Framework for promoting employee financial participation
- Fewer administrative formalities for more growth
- Fifth Community Action Programme on Equal Opportunities (2001-2006)
- Improving quality in work: a review of recent progress (November 2003)
- Growth and jobs
- Guidelines for employment policies
- Incorporation of equal opportunities into Community policies
- Gender balance in business leadership
- Gender balance within the committees and expert groups set up by the Commission
- Gender mainstreaming within the Structural Funds
- Financing SME Growth
- MISSOC - Mutual information system on social protection
- Modernising higher education in the EU
- Modernising public employment services
- Joint assessments of employment policies in the candidate countries
- Joint Employment Report 2004/2005
- Jobs and growth plan for Greece: EU funds at work
- Malta
- Integration of Roma in the area of healthcare
- Integration of Roma in the area of education
- Integration of Roma in the area of employment
- Integration of Roma in the area of housing
- Joint Employment Report 2005/2006
- Joint employment report 2006/2007
- Joint report on social inclusion
- Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion
- Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006
- Managing collective retirement schemes: occupational pension funds
- Keep Europe moving - Sustainable mobility for our continent. Mid-term review of the 2001 White Paper
- Marine knowledge 2020
- Labour force survey
- Latvia
- Life sciences and biotechnology
- New European commitment for services of general interest
- New measures to combat trafficking in women
- New skills for new jobs
- Lithuania
- Mid-term review of the Social Policy Agenda
- Promoting decent work for all
- Promoting decent work for all
- Promoting solidarity between generations
- Promoting the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe
- Restructuring and employment: the role of the European Union in anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment
- Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society
- Promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities at international level
- Occupational pension schemes
- Poland
- Promotion of organisations active in the field of equality between men and women (2004-2006)
- Reassessing the regulatory social framework for more and better seafaring jobs in the EU
- Reducing greenhouse gases: a roadmap for 2050
- Organisation of working time of mobile workers in civil aviation
- Reform of the EU State aid rules on Services of General Economic Interest
- Parental leave and leave for family reasons
- Parking card for people with disabilities
- Regional Policy serving innovation
- Participation of young people with fewer opportunities
- Preventing sexual harassment at work
- Protection of the dignity of women and men at work
- Reinforcing economic policy coordination
- Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination for social protection and social inclusion
- Priorities for vocational education and training (2011-2020)
- Report on equality between men and women, 2004
- Report on equality between women and men 2006
- Report on equality between women and men - 2008
- Report on equality between women and men – 2009
- Report on employment in Europe 2004
- Report on Employment in Europe 2005
- Report on equal opportunities 2002
- Pensions Committee
- Report on equality for men and women, 2005
- Research and innovation in support of the competitiveness of the European regions
- Research and innovation serving growth and employment
- Placing taxation at the service of research and development
- Programmes encouraging the development of microfinance in the EU
- Roma integration in the context of equal treatment
- Rules of procedure of the European Economic and Social Committee
- Roadmap for equality between women and men (2006-2010)
- Risk Capital Action Plan (RCAP)
- Romania
- Safe and sustainable pensions: supporting national strategies through a European approach
- State Aid Action Plan
- The renewed social agenda
- White Paper on services of general interest
- The principle of equal treatment between persons
- The Social Policy Agenda (2006-2010)
- The birth of the European Employment Strategy: the Luxembourg process (November 1997)
- Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with disabilities
- State aid for employment
- The Community Lisbon Programme
- The Community Lisbon Programme: proposal for 2008–2010
- The contribution of taxation and customs policies to the Lisbon Strategy
- Towards a Europe for All Ages
- Towards a new social vision for 21st century Europe
- The Czech Republic
- The demographic future of Europe – from challenge to opportunity
- Scoreboard on implementing the 2004 social policy agenda
- The employment policy guidelines (2003-2005)
- Stepping up the fight against undeclared work
- The EU's Agency for Safety and Health at Work
- Self-employed workers: health and safety at work
- Trade policy serving the Europe 2020 strategy
- Trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation
- Strategic report on the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs: new cycle 2008-2010
- The EU's Social Investment package
- Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015
- Strategy for gender equality in development policy
- Strategy for sustainable development
- Simplifying the regulatory environment
- Streamlining of annual economic and employment policy coordination cycles
- Streamlining open coordination in the field of social protection
- The European Research Area (ERA): new perspectives
- The European Social Fund (2007-2013)
- Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment
- Turkey – Employment and social policy
- Strengthening of maritime labour standards
- Strengthening the commitment to equality between women and men: a women’s charter
- Slovakia
- Sufficient resources and assistance
- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Employment and Social Policy
- Slovenia
- Undeclared work
- Undeclared work — cooperation between EU countries
- The Future Evolution of Social Protection from a Long-Term Point of View: Safe and Sustainable Pensions
- The future of health care and care for the elderly: guaranteeing accessibility, quality and financial viability
- Social and economic integration of Roma
- Social and economic integration of Roma
- Social development in the context of globalisation
- Social inclusion of young people
- Social Protection Committee
- Social security schemes and free movement of persons: Basic Regulation
- Social security schemes and freedom of movement of persons: implementing rules
- Social services of general interest
- URBAN II
- Use of work equipment
- Tackling tax obstacles to the cross-border provision of occupational pensions
- Tackling the pay gap between men and women
- The link between the multilateral trading system and labour standards
- The Lisbon Special European Council (March 2000): Towards a Europe of Innovation and Knowledge
- The integration of women in research
- VAT: labour-intensive services
- Taking stock of five years of the EES: mid-term review (2002)
- Workers' mobility: facilitating the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights
- World Summit for Social Development
- Youth employment: opportunities
- Youth Guarantee
- Youth work - key contribution to social cohesion