EU Quality Jobs Act to Reshape Workplace Rules for UK Employers
Published on 08/26/2026 at 14:27 | Editorial boerse-global.de
The European Commission is finalising a major new legislative package, the Quality Jobs Act, scheduled for adoption in the fourth quarter of 2026. The initiative, which follows a strategic roadmap presented in December 2025, is currently open for public consultation until September 28, 2026, and is set to introduce significant changes to workplace standards across the European Union.
Five Key Policy Priorities
The legislation focuses on five primary policy areas designed to modernise workplace standards across the EU. These include the regulation of algorithmic management, improvements to occupational health and safety, and stricter oversight of subcontracting chains. The Commission also intends to address fair transition requirements in the labour market and strengthen the overall enforcement of existing labour rights.
Part of the proposal involves a significant update to established directives, specifically those concerning workplace environments and display screen equipment. The act is expected to integrate new legal frameworks regarding telework and the right to disconnect, reflecting the shift toward digital and remote work models.
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Vulnerable Employment in Focus
The push for the Quality Jobs Act coincides with recent findings from Eurofound indicating that one in five jobs in the European Union is currently classified as vulnerable. This vulnerability is characterised by a combination of low income, job insecurity, and a lack of fundamental labour rights.
Research conducted by Eurofound highlighted that while the overall trend of vulnerability has been declining since 2016, certain demographics remain disproportionately affected, including women, young workers, migrants, and persons with disabilities. Geographically, Spain reported the highest rate of job vulnerability at 29%, followed by Portugal and Luxembourg. In contrast, the lowest rates were observed in Hungary, Malta, and Bulgaria.
Market data shows that EU employment reached record levels earlier this year, with a 76.1% employment rate for residents aged 20 to 64 in 2025. Despite these gains, a gender gap persists, with male employment at 80.9% compared to 71.3% for women.
Broader Social Policy Reforms
The development of the Quality Jobs Act sits alongside other major social and employment reforms reaching critical milestones this year. On August 25, 2026, the European Parliament adopted a revision of the directive concerning the posting of workers.
Additionally, new rules for the coordination of social security systems, which affect approximately 16 million cross-border workers, were adopted in July 2026 and are expected to take effect by the end of the year.
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Member states are also moving forward with the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive. While the official transposition deadline passed in June 2026, several countries have recently advanced their domestic versions of the law.
Spain and Portugal published their respective legislative drafts in early August 2026, while the French government is scheduled to present its transparency law to the Council of Ministers on September 9, 2026. These measures generally include mandates for salary registers and gender pay audits for companies with more than 50 employees.
