Labour law in the EU

In recent decades, EU policy has aimed to:

• achieving a high level of employment and strong social protection,
• improving living and working conditions,
• protecting social cohesion.

The goal of the EU is to promote social development and improve the living and working conditions of the people of Europe. In the area of labour law, the EU complements the policy initiatives of individual EU countries by setting minimum standards. In accordance with the Treaty, it adopts laws directives that set minimum requirements for the:

• working conditions – working hours, part-time and fixed-term work, posting of employees,
• informing and consulting employees about mass layoffs, company transfers, etc.

The EU adopts directives that are incorporated and implemented by member states into national law. This means that it is public authorities – such as health and safety inspectors and courts – that monitor compliance with the regulations.

With more than 240 million workers in the European Union, workers’ rights directly benefit many citizens and have a positive impact on one of the most important and tangible areas of their daily lives.

EU labour law also benefits employers and society as a whole through:

• providing a clear framework of rights and responsibilities in the workplace,
• protecting the health of workers,
• promoting sustainable economic growth[1].

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/cfDURuQKABk

[1] European Commission “Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, Labour law” https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=157&langId=en