EU member states struggle to gain and maintain full employment. Thereby common labor market policies fail to reduce long term unemployment. This has a serious impact on those who suffer from unemployment, on the society and on the economy.

This AK EUROPA policy brief examines how public employment project help to reach full employment in the EU. It highlights, how such programs help to reduce long term unemployment, reduce poverty, stabilize the economy, and contribute to the green transition.

The EU Supply Chain Law obliges companies to identify, eliminate, prevent, mitigate and account for negative impacts of their business activities on human rights and the environment in their global value chains. On 14 December, the EU Parliament, Council and Commission announced the trilogue agreement.

According to a recent estimate by the International Labour Organization, around 28 million people worldwide live in forced labour, including more than 3 million children. Forced labour is a global problem that also affects Europe. In September 2022, the EU Commission presented a proposal for a regulation banning products made with forced labour on the EU market.

In November, the members of the European Parliament voted by a narrow majority in favour of amending the EU Treaties. This involves important organisational principles of the EU. Among other, Parliament is calling for more rights of co-determination and decision-making and a social progress protocol. The ball is now in the European Council's court to decide whether to convene a convention.

A proposal put forward by the EU Commission in June of this year provides for the exchange and use of personal financial data by various data users to be re-regulated. The Commission's declared aim is to simplify access to data and promote innovation and data-based business models in the EU financial sector. The Chamber of Labour takes a very critical view of the proposal.

This year’s EU-wide Equal Pay Day was marked on 15 November. From this day forward, women symbolically work for free compared to men. In the EU, women on average still earn around 13 percent less than their male colleagues, and in Austria it is even around 19 percent less. The Pay Transparency Directive could provide a remedy. It must now be implemented consistently.

A report by the EU Commission clearly shows that often people at risk of poverty or social exclusion do not have access to essential services. These include water and energy supplies, transport services and digital means of communication. Without secure access to these basic services, the digital and green transition ("twin transition") cannot be managed in a socially just manner.

Last week, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) presented its manifesto for the 2024 European election in the EU Parliament. There was a great deal of interest and approval. The aim of the manifesto is to develop a vision for the next five years in Europe. It is an invitation to the parties and candidates to endorse 12 commitments: A fair deal for workers should make Europe more social and fairer.

The European economy is currently facing major upheavals such as digitisation, the climate crisis and escalating geopolitical tensions. The EU approach of open strategic autonomy is at odds with the new interventionist and protectionist approaches. Against this backdrop, the European Commission is focusing on a more active approach to industrial policy. The Green Deal Industrial Plan and related Commission’s proposals such as the Net-Zero Industry Act aim to achieve technological retooling and innovation, value creation and employment for a climate-neutral and sustainable Europe.

International financial investors and corporations are gaining ground in areas of critical infrastructure such as care, healthcare and housing. At a recent event, the trade union organisation Uni Global Europe drew attention to the dangers posed by private equity investments to the security and quality of supply and to employees. The new study by the Austrian Chamber of Labour was also presented at the event, underlining the need for effective early warning systems and protective measures.