Psychosocial risks, stress and mental health at work
Parliament asks the Commission to propose a law and says what it should contain.
Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 6 October 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- ✓ Referred to committee 12 March 2026
- ✓ Committee work Report adopted 2 September 2026
- ✓ Tabled for plenary 7 September 2026
- ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 6 October 2026
- ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament
A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.
Who is working on it
- Lead committee
- EMPL — Employment and Social Affairs
- Rapporteur
- Estelle CEULEMANS S&D
- Shadow rapporteurs
- Eleonora MELETI PPEMargarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN PfEMariateresa VIVALDINI ECRIrena JOVEVA RenewMaria OHISALO Verts/ALELi ANDERSSON The Left
- For opinion
- SANT — Public Health · rapporteur Irena JOVEVA Renew
The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.
The text, version by version
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament: The new version drops the call for a presumption that injuries are work-related and instead states that burden of proof rules fall under member states and opposes any presumption of causality. It removes the word "legislative" from the proposal the Commission is asked to submit and drops "binding" from employer obligations. It also drops "and legally binding" from the call for a definition of work-related psychosocial risks. The other changes are formal or wording: updated citations, rephrased terms, and formatting adjustments. see the changes →
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The new version replaces the draft legislative proposal with a request that the Commission carry out an impact assessment and submit a legislative proposal depending on its result, and turns the articles into numbered recommendations. It expands definitions and scope, covering trainees and apprentices, moral distress, presenteeism and tertiary prevention, and adds provisions on algorithmic management, human oversight and automated decision-making. It adds or extends provisions on return to work, reporting channels, the right to disconnect, information and consultation, labour inspection powers, the burden of proof and data collection. It replaces many recitals with new ones on member state competence, ILO and WHO findings, sector-specific risks, stigma and gender, and adds that psychosocial risks are multifactorial and cumulative. The other changes are formal or wording: headings, cross-references and rephrasing. see the changes →
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (SANT),Opinion (SANT)
Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.
Timeline
- Plenary stage
- 6 October 2026 Plenary voteAdopted Adopted by a large majorityFor 413 Against 210 Abstained 29
Final vote — text as a whole at 13:50 · 63% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →
Show all 28 ballots in voting order
1. Separate vote on paragraph 4Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recordedNot put to a vote, because an earlier vote already settled the matter.3. Separate vote on paragraph 4Not put to a vote, because an earlier vote already settled the matter.A vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejectedRejected6. Vote on text inserted after paragraph 13RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected8. Separate vote on paragraph 17AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded9. Separate vote on paragraph 17RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejected11. Separate vote on paragraph 18RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded12. Separate vote on paragraph 18AdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded13. Separate vote on paragraph 18RejectedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recorded14. Separate vote on citation 14Adoptedelectronic vote (totals only) — no individual positions recorded15. Separate vote on recital AFAdoptedA vote by raised hands. Only the outcome is recorded, not who voted how. — no individual positions recordedRejectedAdopted18. Annex, introductory part — part 1 13:47 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, introductory part/1Adopted19. Annex, introductory part — part 2 13:47 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, introductory part/2Rejected20. Annex, recommendation 1 — part 1 13:48 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 1/1Adopted21. Annex, recommendation 1 — part 2 13:48 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 1/2Rejected22. Amendment 8 to Annex, recommendation 5, point 1 13:48 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 5, point 1 – Am 8Rejected23. Separate vote on Annex, recommendation 11 13:48 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 11Adopted24. Amendment 9 to Annex, recommendation 12, point 1 13:49 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 12, point 1 – Am 9Rejected25. Annex, recommendation 16 — part 1 13:49 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 16/1Rejected26. Annex, recommendation 16 — part 2 13:49 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 16/2Rejected27. Annex, recommendation 16 — part 3 13:49 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Annex, recommendation 16/3Adopted28. Final vote — text as a whole 13:50 A10-0225/2026 – Estelle Ceulemans – Motion for a resolution (as a whole)Adopted - 5 October 2026 Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
- 30 September 2026 11 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
- 7 September 2026 Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
- Committee stage
- 2 September 2026 Committee vote: report adopted
EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
- 15 July 2026 Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
- 24 June 2026 SANT (Public Health) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
- 21 April 2026 Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)
Members of EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
- 25 March 2026 Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
- 12 March 2026 Referred to the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; SANT (Public Health) gives an opinion.