Just transition
Supply chain laws can change company culture, trade unionist says
The initiatives for due diligence in supply chains are seeing growing support for their potential to create a level playing field, but European worker representatives say the benefits of this legislation would not be limited to the workers at the start of the value chain.
Three-quarters of German workers satisfied with employers’ response to COVID-19, survey finds
Some 73% of German workers are happy with their company’s handling of the coronavirus, according to a recent survey. A majority also reported that their employers had created new opportunities to work from home. For many German companies, works councils played an important role in negotiating and implementing these changes.
What the European Council on recovery tells us about European climate politics
After five long days and nights of negotiations, European leaders struck a deal on the seven-year EU budget and “Next Generation EU” recovery plans on Tuesday. What did this European Council tell us about the politics of green and resilient recovery in the EU? Jennifer Tollman, Johanna Lehne and Rebekka Popp explain.
Workers’ involvement should not be ‘decorative’ in coronavirus recovery, expert says
If EU leaders agree on the EU's seven-year budget and the recovery fund on Friday (17 July), this could facilitate the transition to a more modern and greener Europe. But labour representatives also want to ensure that workers have a say in the entire policymaking process.
Worker participation in management can be stabilising factor, expert argues
Worker participation in the management can be a stabilisation factor in times of crisis, according to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Codetermination and Corporate Governance. EURACTIV has interviewed the co-author and political adviser on the matter, Sebastian Campagna.
Number crunching on expanded Just Transition Fund continues
The European Commission revealed on Thursday (28 May) how individual EU members stand to gain from the newly-fortified €40bn Just Transition Fund. Talks are still ongoing on widening the scope of the fund to more regions that might need green aid.
German trade unionist: Stronger worker participation helps in times of crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a rapid transformation of the workplace at a time when digitalisation and the Green Deal were beginning to restructure entire industries. In an interview with EURACTIV, trade unionist Karin Erhard describes how workers should go forward in these uncertain times and how a strong system of codetermination can help chart the way. VideoPromoted content
Diversity in boards a precondition of sustainable governance
Gender equality is a core value of the European Union. There is empirical evidence that this serves sustainable corporate governance. However, the representation of women in corporate (supervisory) boards varies from country to country. A Europe-wide equality strategy is therefore... VideoPromoted content
A just transition needs workers‘ voice
Workers‘ voice must be part and parcel of the ‘just transition’ of the EU economy. European works councils can ensure that the effects of digitalisation and decarbonisation on decent work and incomes in the European single market are always taken...
European Works Councils advocate a just transition into the future of work
In some ways, the future of work is already here, as digitisation and the drive to decarbonise have begun to change the face of employment. With radical changes to the workplace on the horizon, labour unions and other worker representatives want to chart a path that makes the transition fair for all involved.
Protecting workers: What role for agile solutions?
Over the last decades, the world of work has changed dramatically. While the traditional career model is fading, self-employment and ‘gig’ working is becoming more commonplace and mobility across industries and geographies is increasing.OpinionPromoted content
Workers’ participation: What Europe needs to do for its workers
The EU needs to do more to strengthen workers’ rights. Otherwise workers’ voice in Europe will be in jeopardy.
Digitalisation is a threat as much as an opportunity for workers, experts say
While digitalisation offers more flexible forms of work, it can also be a threat to well-being and encroach on work-life balance, policymakers warned during an event organised by EURACTIV.
The success of populism, and why it’s all about the middle class
Addressing the shrinking of the middle class is crucial to fight the rise of nationalism, protectionism and populism in the next European elections, Margherita Movarelli argues.
EU lawmakers give green light to strengthening parents and carers’ rights
The European Parliament backed on Thursday (4 April) the work-life balance directive, which introduces a set of minimum standards to help reconcile work and family responsibilities for parents and carers in Europe, and thus improve gender equality.
Better work-life balance: closing the gender employment gap?
A positive work-life balance contributes to a more inclusive labour market, reducing the gender employment gap and raising individuals’ quality of life.
Gender balance in the workplace: ‘Not a women’s issue anymore’
The work-life balance directive is only a few steps away from becoming law after the European Parliament and EU member states reached political agreement in January. The new rules will boost women’s representation in the workplace while securing at least 10 days of paid parental leave for fathers.
Work vs family: how some countries lead the way in flexible working
Work pressures can impact on family life as many parents may feel unable to catch up with their family responsibilities because of work commitments. These pressures are particularly dramatic for new parents. Flexible working arrangements can help ease these tensions, RAND Europe argues.
Closing the gender digital gap, a priority for Commissioner Gabriel
Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society defended the need for a collective response to the digital gender gap on Tuesday (29 January), during a conference on gender equality organized by the Martens Center in Brussels.
The EU’s patchwork social pillar on work-life balance
The patchwork of policies on work-life balance across the EU reflect differing levels of commitment to the EU's Social Pillar. VideoPromoted content
Workers’ Voice needs statuary European framework
To create trust, companies have to be transparent in what they are doing and how they treat employees.
MEPs and NGOs urge ministers to reach deal on Work-Life Balance directive
More than 3000 organisations and a group of senior MEPs have urged EU employment ministers to broker a common deal to open talks with MEPs on the Work-life Balance Directive next Thursday (21 June).
Strengthening workers’ voice, legal certainty for future Social Europe
A vital social democracy will play a decisive role in shaping the future of the European Union. The goal of a united Europe, contractually agreed by all EU member states, is to promote participatory democracy, writes Norbert Kluge.
