Strasbourg, 13 March 2025
- Training and support for those affected by restructuring
- Call for an EU investment tool
- Member states have to reinforce and promote collective bargaining
Social dialogue is essential to safeguard and create quality jobs in the green and digital transitions, Parliament said on Thursday.
Access to skills development is essential for workers to successfully transition to new jobs, MEPs argue, and workers affected by restructuring need training as well as support (in the form of income, for example). They believe that workers should be beneficiaries of restructuring; and should receive proper assistance and compensation. Parliament says that restructuring processes must uphold workers’ fundamental rights, such as the right to information and consultation. It therefore urges member states to reinforce and promote collective bargaining.
MEPs want to see a strengthened economic governance framework, including a common investment instrument at EU level. This is to ensure that the EU stays competitive, and to help member states navigate the green and digital transitions.
Regarding the upcoming revision of the European Public Procurement Directive, MEPs urge the Commission to promote collective bargaining and preferential treatment for companies whose workers are covered by collective agreements. They add that no EU financial support should go to companies that do not comply with relevant working and employment conditions.
The resolution was adopted by a show of hands.
Quote
Estelle Ceulemans (S&D, BE), rapporteur on the resolution, said: “The European Parliament must take a stand on protecting workers when restructuring is unavoidable. This includes ensuring access to information, training, and a decent income. It also means investing in innovation and future-oriented sectors, to secure Europe’s strategic autonomy and create quality jobs with more robust social rights.”
Further information
- Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
- Link to the plenary debate (Wednesday 12 March)
- Link to the adopted report (click on Thursday 13 March)
Source – EU Parliament
Europe’s industry must protect and engage workers, urge S&Ds
Strasbourg, 13 March 2025
With major restructuring happening across Europe, the European Parliament is sending a clear message to both workers and employers: We stand for an industrial strategy that creates good jobs, protects workers’ rights, and encourages social dialogue and collective bargaining.
Thanks to the leadership of the Socialists and Democrats, the commitment to a European industrial plan that drives both social progress and climate action is a key part of the European Parliament’s resolution adopted today. The S&Ds managed to protect the resolution from increasingly aggressive attacks on social Europe. However, it is deeply regrettable that the conservatives repeatedly side with the far right to block workers’ rights.
Gaby Bischoff, S&D vice-president for social Europe, said:
“The shift towards a sustainable and digital economy is bringing big changes to European industry. At the same time, the crises of recent years have hit many people hard — especially those on middle and lower incomes. This transformation must not come at the expense of workers.
“Europe needs an industrial policy that pushes both social progress and climate action. The green and digital transitions can only succeed if they are good for the environment but also fair for people. To achieve this, workers must have a strong voice in shaping the future. Democracy at work reinforces our economy and competitiveness and strengthens our democratic system overall.
“This resolution incorporates many progressive priorities, calling for a permanent European investment instrument, the adoption of a quality jobs plan, reform of public procurement rules, and new legislation to improve workers’ rights, including a directive tackling challenges in subcontracting chains.”
Estelle Ceulemans, S&D spokesperson on social matters and European Parliament’s rapporteur on the restructuring file, added:
“The restructuring resolution initiated by the S&Ds has now become the European Parliament’s ambitious position on protecting workers when restructuring is unavoidable. This includes ensuring access to information, training, and a decent income. Additionally, it requires investment in innovation and future-oriented sectors to secure Europe’s strategic autonomy and create quality jobs, with strengthened social rights, ensuring a just transition.
“It is crucial to strengthen our commitment to preventing and supporting restructuring. Too often, companies decide the fate of thousands of workers without respecting social dialogue, prioritising shareholder interests instead. Workers are not disposable – they are not spare parts.”
Source – S&D Group (by email)