The EU is looking to continue prioritising workers’ rights and working conditions across its Member States, highlighting the importance of social protection as a cornerstone of EU values. This is being done through the introduction in 2019 of labour rules which include minimum requirements on working conditions, as well as information about employment conditions. 

Working conditions include common standards on working hours, establishing a maximum work week of 48 hours, a paid annual leave allowance of four weeks, and rules on night work and shift work to address the possibilities of exploitation. 

Further rules also impact workers’ mobility within the EU, as well as occupational health and safety. EU rules on mobility ensure that workers may work in other Member States without losing their rights to enjoy social benefits. Additionally, the rules set out general principles to ensures minimum health and safety standards.  

In addition to its strong policies on workers’ rights and social justice, the EU continues to promote the importance of gender equality and work-life balance, adopting a set of new rules to allow parents and workers taking care of relatives with serious medical conditions to enjoy a better work-life balance.