On Wednesday 3 December, the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs called for a directive to address the challenges and opportunities of a just transition in the workplace (see EUROPE 13762/22) in an own-initiative report voted through by 42 votes to 12 with 2 abstentions.
This directive would offer enhanced protection against unfair dismissal and an extension of the Just Transition Fund for the post-2027 programming period.
This new legislation should cover working conditions, the integration of persons excluded from the labour market, information sharing and worker consultations, and improvements in the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety. It should establish a European framework of policy measures for regions penalised by the green and digital transition to ensure a socially fair and inclusive transition, and the creation and protection of quality jobs.
The text would also cover compulsory and timely consultation with workers, social dialogue and collective bargaining to prepare for restructuring and to avoid redundancies. Workers should also have an individual right to training during their working hours. All the compromise amendments were adopted.
The European Parliament will approve its request during its January plenary session. The Commission will then have three months to respond.
Link to the adopted text: https://aeur.eu/f/jt6 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)