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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/3046(RSP))

On the need to reduce workrelated fatalities

B-10-2026-0244

on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Chiara Gemma

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament calls for a European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers, to be marked each year on 8 August, in memory of the Marcinelle tragedy. It urges action to reduce work-related fatalities, including addressing risks from AI, climate change, psychosocial factors, and vulnerable workers, and calls for a new strategic framework for 2028-2034. It calls for stronger enforcement, better data collection, and support for victims and their families.

Key points

  1. Calls for the establishment of a European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers, to be marked each year on 8 August.
  2. Views the aims of the Day as remembering victims and raising awareness, linked to current risks, and strengthening commitment to the 'Vision Zero' approach.
  3. Stresses the Day should complement the ILO World Day and promote initiatives in schools, workplaces, and institutions.
  4. Emphasises the Day should help strengthen commitment to eradicating work-related accidents, diseases, and fatalities.
  5. Stresses the importance of strengthening workers' rights to information, consultation, and participation.
  6. Calls for cooperation and enhanced exchange of best practice with EU-OSHA to achieve zero fatalities.
  7. Calls on the Commission to assess and address OSH risks from AI and algorithmic management, and on Member States to address risks from new forms of employment.
  8. Calls on the Commission to assess climate-related OSH risks and step up preventive action, including guidance on heat.
  9. Calls for support for the Day, addressing psychosocial risks, heat, subcontracting, and cross-border workers, and recalls long working hours increase fatal accident risk.
  10. Encourages Member States to raise awareness and promote first aid training; stresses employers' primary responsibility for health and safety.
  11. Calls for zero-tolerance approach to workplace violence, and for strengthening labour inspectorates and enforcement.
  12. Calls for a new strategic framework for 2028-2034, and for measures on occupational cancer, posted workers, young workers, volunteer firefighters, SMEs, and support for victims.

Who is affected

  • Workers in high-risk sectors such as construction, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, health and social care, and emergency services.
  • Vulnerable groups including young workers, migrant and cross-border workers, third-country nationals, platform workers, and domestic workers.
  • Employers, who bear primary responsibility for ensuring workers' health and safety.
  • Member States and the Commission, called on to strengthen enforcement, data collection, and support measures.
  • Micro-enterprises and SMEs, which need targeted support for managing occupational risks.

Figures and deadlines

  • 3 298 fatal accidents at work and around 2.8 million non-fatal accidents in the EU in 2023.
  • Young workers have accident rates more than 40 % higher than more experienced workers.
  • Cross-border and migrant workers face around 70 % higher risk of fatal accidents globally, and around 65 % in the EU.
  • Third-country nationals face a three times greater risk of work-related accidents; only about one in five accidents is reported.
  • The Marcinelle tragedy on 8 August 1956 claimed the lives of 262 miners.

Legal basis: Articles 151, 153 and 156 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union