On Wednesday, MEPs approved new rules aiming to improve the working conditions of platform workers. The new rules, agreed on by the Parliament and the Council in February and adopted with 554 votes in favour, 56 votes against and 24 abstentions, aim to ensure that platform workers have their employment status classified correctly and to correct bogus […]
Read MoreAccording to Eurostat, Spain is the country with the highest overqualification rate in the EU
In 2023, the EU over-qualification rate was 22%, with 21% for men and 23% for women. Over-qualification is when people with tertiary education are employed in occupations that do not require such a high level of education. Among the EU countries, the over-qualification rate was highest in Spain (36%), followed by Greece (31%) and Cyprus […]
Read MoreNew EU funding for ideas to reduce long-term unemployment
The Commission has launched a 23 million eurocall for proposals to help EU Member States develop new ways to combat long-term unemployment and facilitate people’s re-entry into the labour market. This was announced in the recent action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages in the EU. Through this call for proposals, funded under the […]
Read MoreEuropean Commission launches call for proposals for EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory
The European Commission has launched a call for applications to set up the EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory (“AFCO”). The creation of this Observatory, which will examine production costs, margins and commercial practices, was announced in mid-March as one of the measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain and to reinforce […]
Read MoreThe European Commission acts to address the shortage of labor and qualified personnel
The Commission has presented an action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages and proposes to work together with Member States and social partners to address these issues over the coming months and years. The action plan is part of the EU’s strategy to boost its competitiveness and enhance its economic and social resilience. […]
Read MoreEuropean Commission takes action to improve the quality of traineeships in the EU
Quality traineeships can help young people gain practical work experience, learn new skills and eventually find a good quality job. For employers, they are an opportunity to attract, train and retain talent. A quality traineeship requires fair and transparent working conditions and an adequate learning content. The EU’s 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships set out […]
Read MoreCouncil gives final approval to new EU rules on short-term accommodation rentals
The Council has adopted a regulation on data collection and sharing for short-term accommodation rental services. This legislative act will enhance transparency in the field of short-term accommodation rentals and will help public authorities regulate this increasingly important part of the tourism sector. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. Transparency and data […]
Read MorePlatform workers: Council confirms agreement on new rules to improve their working conditions
EU employment and social affairs ministers confirmed the provisional agreement reached on 8 February 2024 between the Council’s presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators on the platform work directive. This EU legal act aims to improve working conditions and regulate the use of algorithms by digital labour platforms. The directive will make the use of […]
Read MoreSpain, with one third of female STEM graduates, is below the European average
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the representation of women in STEM education fields: natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, information and communication technologies, engineering, manufacturing and construction. Women are largely underrepresented in these fields. In 2021, in the EU, women tertiary education graduates (International Standard Classification of Education – ISCED levels 5-8), in STEM […]
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