Employment [EU]

Protection of young people at work Directive 94/33/EC – protection of young people at work It sets minimum requirements in order to guarantee improvements in the health and safety of young workers. Key Points The directive applies to all young people under the age of 18 who have an employment contract or an employment relationship defined by the law in force in a European Union […]

Stepping up the enforcement of EU legislation on the posting of workers Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services Directive 2014/67/EU on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services Directive (EU) 2018/957 amending Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision […]

Workers’ mobility Facilitating the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights This proposal is designed to reduce the obstacles both to freedom of movement between the Member States and to occupational mobility within a Member State by optimising the conditions for acquiring supplementary pension rights and harmonising the rules governing dormant pension rights and the transfer of acquired rights. A further aim of the proposed […]

European Social Fund Regulation (EU) 1304/2013 — the European Social Fund It sets down principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the European Social Fund (ESF). In 2014-2020, the ESF covers 4 main areas of investment: employment and in particular youth employment; social inclusion; education; and good governance (i.e. improved quality of public administration). Overall aims The ESF invests in people with the aim […]

Accessibility of products and services Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services It aims to harmonise accessibility* requirements for certain products* and services so the EU’s internal market operates smoothly by eliminating and preventing any free-movement barriers that may exist because of divergent national legislation. It aims to bring benefits to businesses, people with disabilities* and the elderly. Applying accessibility requirements […]

State aid for employment State aid for job creation and aid to promote the recruitment of disadvantaged and disabled workers are exempt from any obligation to notify. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002 of 12 December 2002 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for employment. Types of Aid The Regulation applies to two categories of employment aid: […]

The European Social Fund from 2007 The European Commission is proposing that ESF resources be concentrated on four areas in the 2007-13 period: adaptability among workers and businesses, access to employment, reducing social exclusion, and promoting partnerships for reform. These measures will come under two of the three new objectives: “Convergence” and “Regional competitiveness and employment”. Proposal of 14 July 2004 for a European Parliament […]

Social Charter A Charter of Fundamental Social Rights was adopted so that the social dimension would not be neglected in the work to establish a single market in the Community. The preamble to the EEC Treaty includes amongst its objectives “the economic and social progress” of the Member States and “the constant improvement of the living and working conditions of their peoples”. In June 1988, […]

Parental leave and leave for family reasons The Directive makes the framework agreement on parental leave concluded between the general cross-industry organisations compulsory. It also asks the Member States to lay down penalties for infringements of national measures taken in implementation of the Directive. Drective 96/34/EC of 3 June 1996 on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC The […]

Basic Regulation This Regulation coordinates national social security legislation in order to protect the social security rights of persons moving within the European Union. Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community This Regulation is accompanied by implementing Regulation (EEC) No 574/72, which covers the […]

Occupational pension schemes This Directive, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 24 July 1986, was intended to clarify ex-Article 119 of the EC Treaty (new Article 141) and define the scope and ways of applying the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes. Council Directive 86/378/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the implementation of the principle […]

Institutions for occupational retirement provision With the adoption of the Directive on the activities and supervision of “institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs)” , the European Union has moved decisively in the direction of creating an internal market for occupational retirement provision. By clearly setting out how IORPs should function, the Directive ensures a high level of protection for members and beneficiaries of pension funds. […]

Transfer in Insolvency Similar provisions apply to a transfer during insolvency proceedings which have been opened in relation to a transferor whether or not they have been instituted with a view to the liquidation of the assets of the transferor. A member state may provide that the transferor’s debt payable before the opening of the insolvency are not transferred to the transferee, provided such proceedings […]

Fixed Term Workers An EU directive establishes minimum requirements relating to fixed-term work. The purpose is to ensure equal treatment of workers and prevent abuse arising from successive employment contracts. The directive covers fixed-term workers including seasonal workers. It does not cover workers placed at the disposal of an employer or user by a temporary employment agency. States may exclude the directive rights in relation […]

Working Time The EU working time directives lay down general requirements in relation to the organization of working time. It deals with provisions of daily, weekly, rest, annual leave, night work and shift work. Working time is the period during which the worker is working at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activity and duties in accordance with national laws and practice. States must […]

Terms of Employment The EU has enacted a number of directives designed to keep employees informed of basic information in respect of their employment. There is a directive which requires that employees be told details of their terms of employment. It applies to all paid employees with a contract of the employment relationship. Some exclusions are permitted for employment relationships not exceeding one month or […]

Early Developments and Gender Pay The EU treaty provides the principle of equality of treatment in employment.  The provisions of equality have had a dramatic effect on employment equality through the European Union. This is a fundamental part of the common market.  The European Union has also introduced directives in the area of paternity and maternity rights. The European Union has made several specific directives […]