This project is dedicated to examining the role and significance of quality jobs in contemporary labour markets, particularly in light of their growing complexity and rapid transformation. As work continues to evolve through digitalisation, demographic change, and emerging forms of employment, ensuring high-quality working conditions is becoming an increasingly important priority.
Quality jobs encompass far more than employment alone. They are founded on secure contractual arrangements, fair wages supported by collective bargaining, and safe working environments that meet the highest standards of occupational safety and health. They are based on meaningful training and quality services, ensuring worker involvement in decisions that affect them, and uphold the right to disconnect.
Crucially, these protections must apply equally to all workers, regardless of age, migration status, ethnicity or gender or whether they are self-employed or engaged through subcontracting arrangements.
The ITUC-PERC - FES event was opened by Anton Leppik, PERC Executive Secretary, Liana Badalyanand, Project Manager at FES South Caucasus and Elen Manaseryan, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia.
The discussion explored the occupational safety and health (OSH) framework in relation to artificial intelligence (AI), with particular attention to the growing use of digital systems to monitor and surveil workers, as well as to allocate additional tasks. Participants emphasised that AI is highly complex and should not be viewed as a single technology. Rather, it comprises a range of interconnected systems, each with distinct functions and risk profiles that require careful consideration.
A central theme was data governance, particularly the need to establish clear boundaries around the types of data that may be collected and used for OSH purposes. This includes distinguishing between personal data and information relating to the workplace environment.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of clear regulatory frameworks and coordinated international policy responses. Participants noted that existing international conventions provide a valuable foundation for supporting a safe, responsible, and human-centred digital transformation of the world of work.
The integration of gender considerations into OSH frameworks was also noted, particularly in addressing both psychosocial and physical risks in increasingly digitalised work environments.
Speakers included Aída Ponce Del Castillo, ETUI, Inga Sabanova, FES Future of Work, J. Robalo dos Santos, Antonio, ILO-ACTRAV, Six Silberman, ITUC and Maurizio Curtarelli, EU-OSHA with interventions from the national trade union representatives.
The event focused on the challenges and opportunities arising from the changing world of work in Southeastern Europe. As many young people leave their home countries in search of better wages and more stable employment, the region is facing significant labour market transformations. At the same time, emerging forms of work and the increasing use of workplace technologies, including AI and algorithmic systems, are reshaping the way people work.
The discussions also addressed the importance of establishing strong protections for young workers in an evolving digital economy. Together with the Austrian Trade Union Youth (ÖGJ), participants explored practical solutions to tackle brain drain and ensure that digital rights are integrated into collective bargaining processes.
The event concluded with the session “The Algorithmic Boss? How AI and automation are reshaping youth employment, job quality, and workers’ rights.” The session opened with an introduction to the topic by Gwendolin Barnard, a researcher at the University of Graz and was followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC); Martin Gruber-Risak, Head of Section VIII Labour Law and Employee Protection in the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs; and Eugenia Stamboliev, research fellow and lecturer in the philosophy of media and technology at the University of Vienna.
The two-day workshop brought together trade unionists from Central and Eastern Europe to exchange experiences and discuss a range of urgent challenges facing the sector. Key topics included migration, subcontracting, the implementation of the Green Deal, and the need to ensure quality jobs and fair working conditions for all workers.
The workshop was open by Ramona Veleanu, EFBWW Vice-President, Tom Deleu, EFBWW General Secretary and Beate Martin, Director, FES Baltic States Office. The event also was marked by the participation of Inga Ruginienė, the Prime Minister of Lithuania , who delivered encouraging remarks and expressed support for workers and the importance of strengthening social dialogue.
As part of the programme, participants visited a factory that employs migrant workers and demonstrates a commitment to integrating social dialogue into its business model. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to observe good practices in promoting inclusive workplaces, respecting workers’ rights, and recognising the role of cooperation between management and workers’ representatives.
The conference brought together trade unionists from across Europe to discuss strategies for organising non-standard workers and strengthening their representation. Among the key issues discussed were the definition of worker status, the growing prevalence of non-standard employment among professional and skilled workers, and the challenges of organising workers in sectors characterised by isolation and fragmented workplaces. Participants agreed that building sustainable forms of organisation requires closing legal loopholes and extending core labour rights enjoyed by standard employees to non-standard workers as well.
Speakers included Marie-Hélène Ska, General Secretary of ACV-CSC; Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC); Oliver Röthig, General Secretary of UNI Europa; Knut Dethlefsen, representing Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Competence Centre on the Future of Work; and Wouter Zwysen from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).
ETUC Campaign Page
Across Europe, around 3.1 million trainees are currently in placements, with roughly half unpaid. While intended as a pathway into employment, many traineeships have become part of a repeating cycle in which students and recent graduates accumulate “experience” without progressing into stable, paid work. This dynamic often leaves young people in precarious conditions, unable to cover basic living costs.
For over a decade, youth organisations, trade unions, and civil society have called for stronger regulation at the European level. In April 2024, the European Commission proposed the Quality Traineeship Directive to address these challenges. Yet, nearly two years on, disagreements between EU institutions and Member States have stalled progress.
On 5 May, European decision-makers will determine the future of the Directive—and with it, the prospects of millions of trainees across Europe.
This high-level conference has brought together trade union leaders, academics and policy makers to reflect on and discuss the forthcoming judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in case C-19/23, concerning the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive (EU 2022/2041). The judgment, delivered on 11 November has confirmed the importance of adequate minimum wages and the collective bargaining across the European Union
The conference examined the legal, political, and social implications of the ruling, its potential effects on national wage-setting systems, and its significance for the broader future of social Europe. The event provided a forum for exchange and dialogue on how the Directive can be effectively implemented to strengthen workers’ rights, tackle in-work poverty, and promote upward wage convergence throughout the EU.
This event served both as a moment of reflection on the implications of the Court’s ruling and as a call to action for policymakers, trade unions, and other progressive stakeholders to continue advancing the vision of a more socially just and cohesive Europe, especially in the light of the upcoming Quality Job Roadmap.
We were proud to welcome the following speakers at our event:
EFFAT- IDWF and FES Future of Work organised a high-level meeting bringing together policymakers, trade unions, employers’ organisations, and international institutions to advance the recognition, regulation, and fair formalisation of domestic work across Europe. Opened by Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT General Secretary, and Knut Dethlefsen, Director of FES Future of Work, the event reaffirmed the urgent need to consolidate political will, strengthen trade union power, and ensure that millions of domestic workers are fully protected by labour rights and social protections. This message was further reinforced by contributions from MEP Catarina Martins (The Left, Portugal), MEP Marit Maij (S&D, The Netherlands), and Grace Papa, Political Secretary for Domestic Work at EFFAT–IDWF, who highlighted both the growing political momentum and the grassroots demands essential to achieving fair formalisation and full recognition of domestic workers across Europe.
Key Highlights of the Meeting:
Presentation of EFFAT’s Guiding Framework towards the recognition and regulation of domestic workers
Identification of clear steps for the formalisation of domestic work
Presentation and discussion of FNV’s experience and campaign in the Netherlands
Exploration of current political and legal developments linked to the European Care Strategy and long-term care policies
Discussion on strengthening trade union capacity and alliances to represent domestic workers and improve social inclusion
As part of the Decent Work Day activities, a street action took place in the heart of Vienna to raise visibility for trade union demands on quality jobs. This was followed by a high-level panel discussion on the Quality Jobs Roadmap, moderated by Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
The event featured contributions from experts in employment and social policy, including Wolfgang Katzian, President of the ETUC; Nicolas Schmit, former European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs; Knut Dethlefsen, Director of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung – Future of Work; and Rolf Schmachtenberg, Special Advisor to Commissioner Minzatu, responsible for preparing the Quality Jobs Roadmap.
The panel examined how the Roadmap can help advance job quality across Europe, strengthen social dialogue, and ensure that decent work remains central to Europe’s social and economic priorities.
More on Key ETUC Demands for the Quality Job Roadmap
The launch event for the ETUCLEX study was opened by Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC, and Knut Dethlefsen, Director of FES Future of Work.
This was followed by a session on policy perspectives on working time reduction, featuring interventions from Yolanda Díaz Pérez, Second Vice-President and Minister of Labour of Spain, Gabriele Bischoff, MEP (S&D/Germany), and Torsten Müller, ETUI.
The discussion was further enriched by contributions from the study’s authors, India Burgess, Associate Director at the Autonomy Institute, and Hampus Andersson, Research Officer at the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union Kommunal.
ETUC Study on Working Time Reduction in Collective Agreements
The study is divided into three chapters, each addressing key aspects: building a trade union narrative in support of working time reduction, mapping existing collective agreements from across Europe, and developing strategies for their negotiation and practical implementation.
Chapter 1: A trade union narrative for working time reduction
The first chapter makes the case for WTR building on three different perspectives: workers and trade unions; employers; and societal considerations. It offers an overview of existing research supporting WTR as a means to improve well-being, job quality, productivity, and socio-ecological outcomes. As such, it aims to equip trade unions with arguments and evidence about the advantages of reduced working hours.
Chapter 2: Working time reduction in collective agreements
This chapter analyses 119 collective agreements (CBAs) from across Europe that include working time reduction, mostly without a loss in pay. It demonstrates the diversity of approaches that exist across countries, sectors, and groups of workers. The study also includes five case studies from Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, exemplifying different practical models of WTR.
Chapter 3: Negotiations and implementation of working time reduction
The final chapter offers strategic and practical guidance for negotiating WTR. It outlines key aspects, such as political momentum, awareness-raising, worker engagement, evidence-based advocacy, and long-term planning. It also discusses how to design WTR agreements, integrate them with existing policies, and measure their impact. The study concludes with recommendations to support trade union leaders and negotiators when bargaining for WTR.
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The conference was organised into three roundtables, each dedicated to a critical policy area: regulating subcontracting agencies and labour intermediaries, promoting fair work for domestic workers, and strengthening the European Labour Authority’s mandate to include third-country workers in the EU.
The three roundtables were a unique opportunity for key stakeholders in the field of labour policy, labour migration and social rights to engage in in-depth discussions regarding the protection and promotion of social rights for third-country nationals within Europe.
Towards Inclusion of Migrant Domestic Workers - Renewing Efforts in Ratification of ILO C189 by Dr. Vera Pavlou, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Labour Intermediaries and Labour Migration in the EU: A framing puzzle to rule the market (and avoid the market of rules) by Professor Silvia Borelli, Associate Professor, University of Ferrara, Italy
Strengthening the Mandate of the European Labour Authority by Dr. Jan M.B. Cremers, Associate Researcher, Tilburg Law School, The Netherlands
Dr. Inga Sabanova
