The European Single Market is celebrating its 30th anniversary, but in practice the EU's promise of prosperity has turned into a hard-fought battle for the lowest standards, which is often fought on the backs of workers. How can we succeed in transforming the EU into a truly social union, effectively fighting wage and social dumping and guaranteeing fair labour mobility?

In February 2022, the EU Commission presented its proposal for a directive on corporate due diligence. The new EU law is intended to oblige companies to take responsibility with regard to social and environmental impacts in their supply chain. The Council of the EU agreed on a general approach on 1 December 2022 and votes in the EU Parliament are to be finalised before the summer recess.

In view of the green transition, advancing digitalisation and the emergence of new forms of employment, the project aims at adapting cooperation with the social partners to these new realities.

The Brussels offices of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) would like to cordially invite you to our joint event "The European construction sector: fair mobility or systematic exploitation?".

With its September 2022 proposal to ban products made with forced labour, the Commission is addressing an important issue. The number of people working in forced labour worldwide are dramatic and require urgent action. However, in order to effectively combat forced labour, the Commission's proposal does not go far enough and needs to be improved, as a new AK EUROPA position paper shows.

After the EU Commission presented a proposal for a Single Market Emergency Instrument on 19 September 2022, trade unions and AK showed concern in their immediate reactions about the potential weakening of labour and social law provisions through the project. In particular, the threat to the right to strike was repeatedly highlighted in a negative light. A more detailed analysis by the AK now underlines this criticism and at the same time contains specific demands to the European decision-makers.

On behalf of the Brussels offices of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA), we would like to invite you to our joint event "Due Diligence Directive - Law without teeth or effective human rights protection?".

On 8 December 2022, ministers of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council were able to make progress regarding important issues concerning the European Pillar of Social Rights – for example in the fight against asbestos at the workplace or in respect of long-term care. However, the Council has not been able to adopt a common position for platform work. But there was positive news regarding this issue from the EU Parliament, where the Employment Committee adopted its report on 12 December 2022.

Following the EU Commission’s presentation of a Directive proposal for an EU Supply Chain Law on 23 February 2022, the Council of the EU agreed on a general approach on 1 December 2022. Even though this agreement is an important step within the legislative process, from AK’s point of view the Council’s position is not ambitious enough.

The EU taxonomy should provide a transparent classification system for investors and companies. In doing so, it is supposed to channel investments towards sustainability. Currently, the taxonomy focuses on environmental goals, while a social taxonomy is not even in its infancy. But there are good reasons to revive the debate. If well-designed, a social taxonomy has the potential to improve the consideration of the social impact of investments and help to prevent social washing. Therefore, the involvement of trade unions must be ensured and it should provide a gold standard.