Addressing subcontracting chains and the role of intermediaries in order to protect workers’ rights
TA-10-2026-0050 · P10_TA(2026)0050 · PE775.631
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 332–209–33 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2025/2133
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Parliament's resolution calls for an EU strategy to combat labour exploitation, abusive subcontracting and fraudulent labour intermediation, with stronger enforcement and transparency.¶¶¶ It urges the Commission to clarify rules on subcontracting, define high-risk sectors, and ensure joint and several liability, while protecting SMEs and respecting national practices.¶¶ It demands measures against fraudulent posting, financial subcontracting, and abusive intermediaries, including licensing, sanctions, and better data collection.¶¶¶ It calls for stronger labour inspections, enhanced ELA powers, and mutual recognition of trading prohibitions to prevent circumvention.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for an EU strategy to combat labour exploitation, illegal work, and abusive subcontracting and intermediation, while ensuring competitiveness and worker protection.¶
- Asks the Commission to clarify how Member States can regulate subcontracting, including limiting chain length and joint liability, and to intensify enforcement.¶
- Stresses that any EU initiative should be developed with social partners and tailored to sectors, with lower requirements for low-risk sectors.¶
- Supports joint and several liability to make main contractors responsible for the whole chain, and calls for addressing 'financial subcontracting' where main contractors do no work.¶¶
- Encourages direct employment in high-risk sectors where proportionate, and inclusion of community benefit provisions in public procurement.¶¶
- Calls for defining high-risk sectors with Member States and social partners, allowing adjustments for national situations.¶
- Demands action against fraudulent posting of non-EU nationals and abuse of posting rules, including review by the Commission.¶
- Calls for licensing or registration of labour intermediaries with integrity criteria, banning fees to workers, and dissuasive sanctions for violators.¶
- Urges revision of public procurement rules to improve exclusion criteria for fraud and criminal infiltration, and to exclude violators of labour and environmental law.¶
- Calls for strengthening the ELA's mandate to investigate and inspect cross-border cases, and for sector-specific enforcement units.¶
- Urges Member States to increase labour inspectors and improve inspection quality, with at least one inspector per 10,000 workers.¶
- Calls for mutual recognition of trading prohibitions and criminal sanctions, and for linking sanctions to company size or turnover.¶¶
Who is affected
- Workers in high-risk sectors such as construction, agriculture, and cleaning, who would gain better protection and enforcement.¶¶
- Main contractors and subcontractors, who may face joint liability and requirements to perform work themselves.¶¶
- Labour intermediaries, who would need licensing and face bans on charging workers fees.¶
- SMEs, which should not face unnecessary burdens and may benefit from fairer competition.¶¶¶
- Public authorities, which would get tools to exclude non-compliant bidders and improve procurement.¶