EU: European Parliament seeks to improve protection of workers from lead exposure European legislation After taking similar action over asbestos, the European Union is now looking to boost the protection of workers from lead. Many workers are still exposed to this reprotoxic substance, which is estimated to cause up to 15% of adult asthma.
EU: second-stage consultation launched on revising European Works Council Directive European legislation With only months left before the end of the current EU Parliamentary and Commission terms, the EU Commission is stepping up its commitment to strengthening European Works Councils (EWC). Six weeks after the initial phase was launched in April 2023,…
EU: European Commission outlines its plans for regulating traineeships European legislation On 11 July, the European Commission launched a consultation of the social partners, with a view to drafting a text strengthening the legislative arsenal around internships, as the European Parliament called for in June 2023.…
Réglementaire EU: several texts face uncertainty ahead of elections in Spain, which takes rotating presidency European legislation Spain assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, ahead of an early general election in the country later this month. The result of the election remains uncertain and could alter the tone of Spain's six-month presidency, despite the country having been supportive of Europe's social ambitions in recent years. The outcome could influence the future of several texts, on topics including platform workers and due diligence, which mark a divide between left and right.
Réglementaire Technologies EU: Parliament adopts its position on the AI Act in plenary session European legislation On 14 June the European Parliament adopted its position on the AI Act. This draft text aims to set a framework for AI tool features within the EU, comprising a set of prohibitions (biometric surveillance,…
EU: European Parliament urges European Commission to ban unpaid internships European legislation On 14 June the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour (404–78, 130 abstentions) of an own-initiative report on quality internships. The text covers voluntary traineeships,…
Réglementaire EU: ETUC presents its 2023-2027 action programme European legislation With its new leadership team in place, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has presented its action programme for its 2023-2027 mandate that hinges centrally on the concept of a ‘fair deal’ for workers. The organisation intends to support its affiliates in applying the EU Directive on minimum wages that the EU Member States must transpose into national legislation by 2025,…
EU: Council adopts position proposing highly flexible presumption of salaried status for platform workers European legislation As we previously reported, the Council of the European Union has opted to go against the European Parliament on the matter of platform work. At the second Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, attended by EU labour ministers on 12 June,…
Cross-border employees in Europe may work up to 49.9% of their hours remotely European legislation The framework agreement on the social security arrangements applicable to cross-border telework within the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will come into force on 1 July 2023 for an initial period of five years.…
Exclusif Réglementaire EU: Council set to unravel presumption of salaried status for platform workers European legislation European Union labour ministers are to meet on 12 June, under the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU, to adopt their position on the proposed directive on platform work. Should a position be adopted, negotiations between co-legislators to reach a compromise will be based on texts that differ significantly. According to a preparatory text seen by mind RH, a majority of member states are proposing a non-mandatory presumption of employment.
