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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2829(RSP))

On social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights

B-10-2025-0143

on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Estelle Ceulemans

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This resolution addresses social and employment aspects of restructuring, calling for job protection, workers' rights, and a just transition. It urges the Commission and Member States to strengthen social dialogue, collective bargaining, and workers' information and consultation rights, and to ensure that restructuring respects fundamental rights. It calls for EU funding and trade policies to promote quality jobs, and for measures to prevent forced redundancies and support affected workers through training and income support. It requests new legislative proposals, including a directive on just transition and a framework directive on subcontracting, and stresses the need to address skills shortages and gender equality.

Key points

  1. Underlines the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and calls for an ambitious European industrial policy with investment in public services and quality jobs.
  2. Welcomes the European Competitiveness Fund and calls for a common investment instrument and reinforced SURE to support short-time work and workers in the green transition.
  3. Calls on the Commission to present a quality jobs roadmap and ensure social partner involvement in the clean industrial deal.
  4. Calls for trade agreements to include labour clauses and for public procurement to promote collective bargaining and exclude violators.
  5. Calls for EU funding to be conditional on compliance with labour law and collective agreements, and for investments in strategic sectors.
  6. Invites the Commission to monitor restructuring trends using the European Restructuring Monitor and the EU Fair Transition Observatory.
  7. Calls for collective bargaining coverage of at least 80% in all Member States and for workers to benefit from restructuring.
  8. Calls for early anticipation of restructuring, support for affected supply chains, and investment in trade union training.
  9. Urges action on skills shortages, including expanding Centres of Vocational Excellence and improving recognition of skills.
  10. Calls for safeguards against misuse of restructuring, including penalties for violations, and for a directive on workers' participation.
  11. Calls for a directive on just transition, free training for workers, and gender equality in transition strategies.
  12. Calls for mechanisms to avoid forced redundancies and for a framework directive on subcontracting to ensure decent working conditions.

Who is affected

  • Workers and trade unions: strengthened rights to information, consultation, and collective bargaining during restructuring.
  • Companies, including SMEs: must respect workers' rights, integrate supply chain impacts, and avoid forced redundancies.
  • Member States and the Commission: called on to implement policies, monitor restructuring, and support training and social dialogue.
  • Subcontracted workers and labour intermediaries: subject to proposed regulation to prevent abusive practices.

Figures and deadlines

  • 40 % of European trade unions report having sufficient resources to represent workers effectively.
  • Trade union representatives trained in restructuring negotiations are 50 % more effective in preserving jobs.
  • SURE saved 40 million jobs.
  • Collective bargaining coverage target of at least 80 % in all Member States.

Legal basis: Articles 151 and 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union