EU: BusinessEurope sets out deregulation agenda in the social field

Featured image of the article EU: BusinessEurope sets out deregulation agenda in the social field
BusinessEurope, the main lobby group representing employers and business federations across the EU, has called for a "turning point" in European social policy to help "boost competitiveness" and reduce regulatory burdens on companies. In a position paper published on 18 February, the organisation urged EU policymakers to drastically simplify recent labour legislation, including directives on pay transparency, platform workers and working conditions, arguing that administrative complexity is weighing on businesses.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

BusinessEurope aims to achieve a 25% reduction in obligations and a 35% reduction for SMEs, “without affecting workers’ rights”. In its position paper dated 18 February, the confederation is calling for “stop-the-clock” legislation for the EU Pay Transparency Directive, postponing its transposition deadline (currently 7 June 2026) by two years. In addition, it is calling for a presumption of compliance for companies that adhere to collective agreements establishing job classifications with obje

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
United States: UAW secures historic agreement at Volkswagen plant in Tennessee
Nearly two years after establishing a presence at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant (3,000 employees), the United Auto Workers secured an agreement on wages, healthcare costs, and job...
EU: BusinessEurope sets out deregulation agenda in the social field
BusinessEurope, the main lobby group representing employers and business federations across the EU, has called for a "turning point" in European social policy to help "boost competitiveness" and...
20 February 2026
Taïwan va mettre en place une politique de lutte contre le travail forcé
L’accord commercial conclu le 12 février entre les États-Unis et Taïwan va amener ce dernier pays à développer une politique de lutte contre le travail...
19 February 2026
France: Entremont bolsters measures to prevent occupational hardship in light of pension reform
Entremont Alliance (1,600 employees in France), a cheese manufacturer, signed a new agreement on 14 January on preventing hardship. It notably incorporates the effects of the 2023 pension reform...
18 February 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
2
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
3
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
4
Germany: standoff over national plan to boost collective bargaining
Under the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, Germany is required to produce an action plan to boost collective bargaining coverage. That plan has stalled, however, after being blocked by the...
9 February 2026
5
ENI incorporates just transition and AI into global agreement
On 13 January, Italian energy group ENI renewed its global agreement on international industrial relations, corporate social responsibility and the just transition with Italian unions CGIL, CISL...
5 February 2026
6
Inditex signs joint declaration with EWC on older workers
After mobilising in November against its management over value sharing, the European works council of the Inditex fashion group (162,000 employees worldwide) signed a joint declaration with the...