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Cultural heritage plays an important role in the history and identity of Europe’s countries and indeed of the continent as a whole. It is a vital part of Europe’s economy and promoting cultural treasures will help to boost growth and employment.

The EU has made 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage to highlight the diversity, shared history and rich cultures that make Europe today. 
Throughout 2018, we will celebrate our diverse cultural heritage across Europe - at EU, national, regional and local level. The aim of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is to encourage more people to discover and engage with Europe's cultural heritage, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space. The slogan for the year is: Our heritage: where the past meets the future.
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Cultural Heritage

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, "Parental leave" is defined as the 'employment-protected leave of absence for employed parents, which is often supplementary to specific maternity and paternity leave periods, and frequently, but not in all countries, follows the period of maternity leave.'

In a resolution on the EU strategy for Equality between women and men post 2015, the European Parliament highlighted the importance of equality in parental leave: ‘the principle of equal treatment of women and men implies that there must be no discrimination whatsoever, be it direct or indirect, including on account of motherhood, fatherhood and the fact of shouldering family responsibilities’ 
The EP has also expressed its support and interest in legislative decisions on women’s participation in the labour market, gender equality and work-life balance through other related resolutions (on maternity leave, women's labour market participation, female poverty and gender equality).

Parental leave

Parliament will debate and vote on the priorities for this year’s so-called “European Semester”, the EU’s mechanism for the surveillance and coordination of economic and employment policies across member states. MEPs are expected to urge EU countries to better coordinate their economic and fiscal policies and to use the opportunities offered by the EU’s recovery funds to modernise their economies.

The European Semester is the EU's annual cycle of economic policy guidance and surveillance. It provides a framework for the coordination of economic policies across the EU. It allows EU countries to discuss their economic and budget plans and monitor progress at specific times throughout the year. During its 2022 cycle, the European Semester resumes its broad economic and employment policy coordination, while further adapting in line with the implementation requirements of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Member States are expected to submit National reform programmes and stability/convergence programmes, setting out their economic and fiscal policy plans, as in previous European Semester cycles in April. The main novelty in the 2022 cycle will be that the national reform programme (NRP) will play a dual role. Besides its role for the European Semester, the NRP will also fulfil one of the two bi-annual reporting requirements of Member States under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Together with the country reports in May 2022, the Commission will propose to the Council to adopt country-specific recommendations (CSRs). The CSRs will address the key issues identified in the country reports. The country reports, the in-depth reviews and the proposals for CSRs will form part of the 2022 European Semester Spring package.

European Semester

A ‘posted worker’ is an employee sent by his or her employer to carry out a service in another EU Member State on a temporary basis. EU law on posted workers is generally regarded as a targeted effort to regulate and balance the following two principles: creating a level playing field for cross-border service provision in a way that is as unrestricted as possible; protecting the rights of posted workers by guaranteeing a common set of social rights in order to prevent unfair treatment and the creation of a low-cost workforce.

On May 2018, MEPs voted on revised rules: workers posted temporarily to another EU country must get equal pay for equal work in the same place.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/posted-workers-8th-parliamentary-term_6601_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Posted workers (2019-2020)

Valdis Dombrovskis, born on 5 August 1971 in Riga, is a Latvian politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009. Dombrovskis is Executive Vice-President-Commissioner designate for&nbsp;An Economy that Works for People

After the hearing by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President-designate

Helena Dalli, born on 29 September 1962, is a Maltese politician.

After the hearing by the Committees on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Helena DALLI, Commissioner-designate, Equality

Nicolas Schmit, born on 10 December 1953 in Differdange, is a Luxembourgish politician. He has been serving as Member of the European Parliament since 2019.

After the hearing by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs

The European Parliament has adopted new rules to allow parents and carers to better reconcile their work and family lives.

The new rules for a better work-life balance, adopted on 4 April 2019, aim to increase the employment rate for women, create incentives for fathers to take family-related leave, and promote gender equality and equal opportunities. Parliament and Council agree on measures to reconcile career and private life:

- Ten working days paternity leave, paid at not less than the level of sick pay

- Two months of non-transferable paid parental leave

- Five days of annual carers’ leave

- Flexible working patterns, including remote working.

#EUelections2019 - Work-life balance

Parliament wants all workers to benefit from minimum rights on working conditions, including those on non-traditional contracts.

On 16th April 2019 MEPs approved minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, like with Uber or Deliveroo. The new rules include: minimum rights agreed for workers in casual or short-term employment; working conditions that must be made clear to workers on their first day on the job, and probationary periods that may not be longer than six months.

How is the EU fighting youth unemployment? With more than 26 million Europeans out of work, unemployment is one of the biggest issues that Europe is facing today.

#EUelections2019 - Employment

EMPL CRPD Network meeting

Press conference by Elisabetta GUALMINI rapporteur, and Dragoş PÎSLARU chair of the Employment and Social Affairs committee on Provisional deal on the platform workers directive

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs - Interparliamentary committee meeting

EMPL

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Joint meeting Ordinary meeting Committee on Employment and Social Affairs HEARING Hearing on Harmful practices in the EU towards women and girls with disabilities

FEMM

Trilogue on Equality Bodies

EMPL - Exchange of views with Dubravka Šuica (Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography)

EMPL- FEMM - Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment andoccupation

LIBE - Voting session

EMPL Committee - Voting session

EMPL - Hearing on ' Social and labour market integration of Roma people from settlements - good practices and lessons learnt from the Member States '

EMPL - Voting session

EMPL - Presentation of the Council Spanish Presidency’s programme

EMPL Committee - Hearing of William Cockburn (EU-OSHA executive director nominee)

EMPL Committee - Hearing: Future-proof jobs and skills training for the digital and green transitions, and labour shortages and jobs of the future

EMPL Interparliamentary Committee Meeting ' Children at the heart of Europe: Two years of the European Child Guarantee '

EMPL 1st Trilogue on the Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ASBESTOS at work

EMPL - Meeting between Committee Chair Dragos PÎSLARU and the Spanish Presidency Ambassador Raúl Fuentes Milani

EMPLCommittee - Election of the first Vice-Chair

EMPL Committee.- Exchange of views with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

EMPL Committee - Exchange of views with Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms

EMPL Committee - Exchange of views with Helena DALLI, Commissioner for Equality

EMPL Committee - Hearing on ' Working conditions of firefighters '

Parliament debates an agreement with EU Ministers on new legislation requiring EU companies to disclose salary information of their employees. With the aim of closing the gender pay gap, the new law includes dissuasive penalties for employers that do not comply with equal pay rules. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL) and Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs

Equal pay for equal work between men and women (pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms): Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL) and Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs

Parliament debates an agreement with EU Ministers on new legislation requiring EU companies to disclose salary information of their employees. With the aim of closing the gender pay gap, the new law includes dissuasive penalties for employers that do not comply with equal pay rules. Second part of the debate.

Equal pay for equal work between men and women (pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms): MEPs debate (part 2)

Parliament debates an agreement with EU Ministers on new legislation requiring EU companies to disclose salary information of their employees. With the aim of closing the gender pay gap, the new law includes dissuasive penalties for employers that do not comply with equal pay rules. MEPs debate (part 1)

Equal pay for equal work between men and women (pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms): MEPs debate (part 1)

Parliament debates an agreement with EU Ministers on new legislation requiring EU companies to disclose salary information of their employees. With the aim of closing the gender pay gap, the new law includes dissuasive penalties for employers that do not comply with equal pay rules. Opening statements by Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL) and by Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs. The transcript is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Equal pay for equal work between men and women (pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms): Opening statements by Samira RAFAELA (Renew, NL) and by Kira Marie PETER-HANSEN (Greens/EFA, DK), Rapporteurs

MEPs vote on the following topics: Recommendation to the Council taking stock of the functioning of the EEAS and for a stronger EU in the world - Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), EU/United States Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV - Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), The further repressions against the people of Belarus - Motions for resolutions, European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023 - Irene TINAGLI (S&D, IT), European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 - Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS (S&D, ES), Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU - Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D, PT), EU-Armenia relations - Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG) and EU-Azerbaijan relations - Željana ZOVKO (EPP, HR).

Voting session, including The further repressions against the people of Belarus and the Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

Ahead of each new rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (every 6 months), the ministers of the holding country present their priorities in a series of meetings with parliamentary committees related to their political area. On January 2023, the committees of FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), REGI (Regional Development) and DEVE (Development) welcomed the Sweden's ministers, including Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Peter Kullgren, Minister for Rural Affairs, Johan Forssel, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Swedish Ministers: extracts from the EP Committee meetings (FEMM - REGI - DEVE)

Improving the conditions of small-scale food producers is a global objective. Small farms make up the vast majority of the EU's 10 million farms. They allocate larger shares of their production to food and have a more diversified produce portfolio than larger farms. Small farms also play a key role in the EU's rural world. They help to maintain lively rural and remote areas, help preserve the identity of regional production, and offer employment in regions with fewer job opportunities. Yet, the pace of disappearance of small farms has been quite rapid in recent decades. They suffer most from the challenges facing the agricultural sector, such as market pressures and weather extremes, and they have to invest greater effort to engage in innovation and new technology. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Small farms

The considerable increase in the number of jobs offered through digital platforms has made the improvement of the situation of platform workers, already highlighted by research and the EU institutions themselves for several years, a matter of urgency. As platform workers' rights are not enshrined in EU labour law, this increasingly leads to problems related to various aspects of their work and human development. To remedy this situation, the European Commission has submitted a proposal for a directive aimed at improving the working conditions of platform workers, clarifying their employment status, and supporting the sustainable growth of digital labour platforms in the EU. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Improving the working conditions of platform workers

Parliament demands measures that enable people with disabilities to participate socially and in the labour market, and propose ways to address discrimination. MEPs reaffirm that the right of persons with disabilities to live independently has to be fully guaranteed through policies and legislation focused on inclusion that will eradicate stereotypes and ableism. Opening statement by Anne-Sophie PELLETIER (The Left, FR), Rapporteur, Jordi CANAS (Renew, ES), Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Ulrike MÜLLER (Renew, DE), Committee on Petitions and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Towards equal rights for persons with disabilities: opening statement by Anne-Sophie PELLETIER (The Left, FR), Rapporteur, Jordi CANAS (Renew, ES), Ulrike MÜLLER (Renew, DE), and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

The Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee hosts a public hearing on the so-called “Uber files”, lobbying and workers’ rights with the intervention of the Uber whistleblower and former Head of Public Policy, Mark MACGANN. Extracts from the hearing.

Uber files, lobbying and workers’ rights: extracts from the Hearing at the EMPL Committee

Platform economy work is making use of an online platform (for example the one of companies operating in the food delivery sector, in order to enable organisations or individuals to contact other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems, or to have access to specific services in exchange for payment. Platform economy work is considered as a non-standard form of employment. Therefore, the working conditions and the social rights of platform workers are not enshrined in standard labour regulation. In the European Parliament, the rapporteur of EMPL Committee Elisabetta GUALMINI (S&D, IT) presented her draft report on 19 May 2022. Instead of having five criteria to determine whether the platform is an 'employer' , the rapporteur proposes to add other concrete elements and place this (non-exhaustive) list in recital 24.

Infoclip - working conditions of the platform economy workers

The European Parliament is celebrating its third annual Gender Equality Week. Parliament is committed to a fairer, more equal society. 
 
Gender equality lies at the heart of its work, across the policy agenda: from energy and the green transition, to trade and employment, to promoting fairness inside and outside EU institutions.

Gender Equality Week 2022

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: recovery after Covid-19 pandemic through employment, youth and digital.

Infoclip: Recovery: Employment, youth and digital age

What does the EU do for us? It makes sure our food and products are safe. It connects Europe with safe infrastructure that makes travel cheaper and easier. The single market gives job opportunities to millions of EU citizens.  And calling home from any EU country is now cheaper than ever.  Not bad, right?

What has the EU ever done for me?

Follow Kacper, Elsa, Gisèle and Michalakis as they take part in the first EU exercise in direct democracy.

Inside the Conference on the Future of Europe

Following the last successful trilogue on the Directive "Adequate minimum wages in the EU", the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs votes on the provisional agreement that was reached, aiming to tackle in-work poverty and raise standards of living, foster collective bargaining, and enhance workers' rights to minimum wage protection. Votes and statements by Dennis RADTKE (EPP, DE) and Agnes JONGERIUS (S&D, NL), Rapporteurs.

Adequate minimum wages in the European Union: extracts from the votes and statements by Dennis RADTKE (EPP, DE) and Agnes JONGERIUS (S&D, NL), Rapporteurs

Ahead of each new rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (every 6 months), the ministers of the holding country present their priorities in a series of meetings with parliamentary committees related to their political area. The committees of ENVI (Environnment, Public Health and Food Safety), AGRI (Agricultural and Rural) and EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) welcome the Czech Republic’s ministers, including Anna HUBÁČKOVÁ, Minister for the Environment, Zdeněk NEKULA, Minister of Agriculture and Marian JUREČKA, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Czech Ministers: extracts from the presentation by Czech Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (ENVI, AGRI and EMPL)

Parliament is set to take a final vote on two groundbreaking laws to regulate the online sphere. Members will debate Ukraine and Moldova’s new EU-candidate status; and Czechia’s prime minister will outline his country’s priorities for its 6-month EU Council presidency. All that and more, coming up in Strasbourg.

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