Employment 16

As the European Commission considers revising the Written Statement Directive (91/533/EEC) to reflect the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) calls for a balanced and flexible approach that takes into account the realities of local and regional government employment.

In its official response to the Commission’s first-phase consultation of the social partners, CEMR acknowledges that the Commission has correctly identified many relevant issues. However, it expresses concern that expanding the scope of the directive, particularly to cover all atypical and short-term work contracts, could result in disproportionate administrative burdens for local authorities.

“The introduction of written statements for contracts under one month or eight hours would place a burden on employers that is not proportionate to the benefits for employees,” the response notes.

CEMR stresses that:

Most local government staff already fall under the existing rules;

Local authorities need flexibility in handling casual and supply contracts, especially in sectors like education;

Contractual elements should remain a matter for national decision-making, not EU regulation;

There is a risk in conflating very different work arrangements, such as traineeships, digital platform work, and genuine self-employment.

While supportive of fair and transparent working conditions, CEMR does not currently support new EU-level legislation in the areas identified and advises further analysis of the impact on public employers. Should EU-level social partners initiate negotiations under Article 155 TFEU, CEMR affirms its willingness to support the process.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Employment, Employment, Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Migration and inclusion, Publications

Strengthening work-life balance

Improving equality, labour participation, and social cohesion through better policies on leave, childcare, and flexible work

Work-life balance remains one of the most pressing challenges in Europe, with direct implications for gender equality, labour market participation, and social cohesion. Despite progress in recent decades, women remain underrepresented in employment, face higher risks of poverty, and continue to carry a disproportionate share of care responsibilities. Addressing these issues is not only a matter of fairness but also an economic necessity, as women’s employment is a key driver of growth.

Policies that support better reconciliation of work and family life are crucial to close the gender employment gap. Several measures stand out: ensuring high-quality and affordable childcare, promoting equal sharing of parental leave, developing flexible working arrangements, and adopting gender-sensitive budgeting practices.

Childcare plays a central role in enabling equal participation in the labour market. Meeting the “Barcelona objectives”, with at least 90% of children between the ages of three and school age having access to childcare, is essential. Investment in childcare infrastructure reduces the burden of informal care, often borne by women, and creates conditions for greater economic independence.

Equally important are leave provisions. While maternity leave remains a cornerstone, extending its duration may sometimes hinder women’s reintegration into the workforce. Alternatives such as affordable childcare, telework options, or flexible work schemes can provide more balanced solutions. Paternity leave, especially when non-transferable, is vital for promoting equal responsibility between parents, while parental leave policies must go further in encouraging fathers’ participation. Carers’ leave also deserves attention, particularly as ageing populations increase the demand for informal care.

Flexible working arrangements, including telework, temporary reductions in working hours, and adaptable schedules, can further support families. Properly implemented, they improve retention, motivation, and productivity, while helping both women and men manage family responsibilities.

Finally, transparency in pay structures and the regular monitoring of gender equality measures at all levels can help reduce persistent wage gaps and ensure progress is visible. Sharing good practices and setting benchmarks allows countries and regions to learn from one another and target actions where they are most needed.

Work-life balance is not just a matter of private concern but a cornerstone of social and economic development. By strengthening childcare, modernising leave policies, and encouraging flexible and equal working arrangements, societies can ensure greater gender equality, reduce poverty risks, and boost long-term growth. Achieving these goals requires commitment across all levels of governance, with local and regional authorities playing a decisive role in turning principles into everyday realities.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Employment, Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Press, Publications

European pillar of social rights

Updated CEMR-EPSU framework supports inclusive employment and service delivery

As the European Commission advances its agenda on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) reiterates that success hinges on meaningful involvement of local and regional governments, alongside social partners.

CEMR emphasises that the diversity of Europe’s social and labour systems must be fully respected. Rather than setting additional minimum standards at the EU level, the Pillar should serve as a reference framework, offering benchmarks and guidance while preserving subsidiarity and national ownership.

The organisation underlines three main priorities for strengthening the social dimension of the EU:

Skills for the future: Preparing for digitalisation, demographic change and migrant integration through targeted investment in education and lifelong learning.

Inclusive labour markets: Supporting active participation of underrepresented groups, including women, older workers, and migrants, to strengthen social cohesion and economic resilience.

Gender equality: Promoting flexible working conditions, better work-life balance, and innovative employment practices to increase women’s participation in the workforce.

CEMR warns that increasing EU-level regulation in sensitive areas like minimum wages or employment contracts risks undermining national and regional competencies. Instead, the focus should be on empowering local actors to deliver tailored social and employment policies that reflect local realities.

David Simmonds, CEMR spokesperson on local and regional governments as employers, concludes:

“The best way to achieve the goals of the Social Pillar is to recognise the diversity of our territories and fully involve the local level in shaping and implementing social policies. This is the path toward a more inclusive and democratic Social Europe.”

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Read the declaration here

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Employment, Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Press, Publications, Skills, Skills

Strengthening Europe’s social dimension

The European Pillar of Social Rights should focus on quality, investment, and upward convergence across Member States

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The European Pillar of Social Rights is intended to reinforce the EU’s social dimension and rebalance economic and social priorities. Public services and services of general interest (SGIs) are at the heart of this process, as they underpin citizens’ quality of life and provide the infrastructure for sustainable growth.

Rather than producing new legislation, the priority should be to ensure that existing EU social rules remain fit for purpose. The current Social Acquis already includes around 70 directives that protect workers and guarantee rights. What is needed now is stronger enforcement and, where necessary, modernisation, for example, revisiting the Working Time Directive to provide clarity for employers and employees alike.

The Pillar also offers an opportunity to introduce benchmarks that compare and measure social policy developments across Europe, within the framework of the European Semester. Such benchmarking could improve transparency, highlight gaps, and support upward convergence while respecting the diversity of national systems. Importantly, this approach should apply to all EU Member States, not just the euro area.

A stronger social dimension requires reliable and predictable investment in both physical and social infrastructure, from transport and energy to education, healthcare, and social services. To make this possible, fiscal rules may need to be reviewed so that key public investments can be prioritised without undermining sustainable growth.

The success of the European Pillar of Social Rights will depend on respecting subsidiarity and recognising national differences, while at the same time providing common principles to guide reform. By focusing on quality, enforcement, and strategic investment, the Pillar can help Europe reduce inequalities, strengthen essential services, and support sustainable growth across all territories.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Employment, Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Press, Publications

Review of the working time directive

CEMR calls for a balanced review of the Working Time Directive that respects local autonomy and public service delivery

In response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the review of the Working Time Directive, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) reaffirms its long-standing position: any revision must safeguard both the health and safety of workers and the ability of local and regional governments (LRGs) to deliver quality public services.

CEMR welcomes the opportunity for dialogue, while stressing the importance of flexibility, subsidiarity and legal clarity in any future proposals. The organisation emphasises that solutions must be tailored to the realities of the public sector at the local level and negotiated by social partners closest to those realities.

A Directive in need of modernisation… but not at any cost

Unchanged since 2003, the Working Time Directive is due for modernisation. However, CEMR warns that changes must not impose one-size-fits-all rules that hinder municipalities and regions’ capacity to organise their services effectively.

CEMR supports a legislative framework that allows space for social dialogue, enabling employer-employee solutions that reflect local conditions and needs. It also opposes extending the scope of the Directive to cover areas beyond health and safety, such as pay, reconciliation of work and private life, or new work patterns, which are either beyond EU competence or should be left to national and local arrangements.

Flexibility, Clarity and No Overreach

In its response, CEMR reiterates the need for:

Flexibility to adapt working time rules to diverse services and contexts;
Respect for local autonomy and social partner agreements;
Clarity and legal certainty to avoid confusion and facilitate implementation;
No new legislative initiatives until the full impact assessments are published and analysed.

CEMR’s position is rooted in its 2011 policy paper, which remains relevant due to the lack of substantial follow-up from the European Commission since its adoption. Until more is known from the latest assessments and stakeholder feedback, CEMR believes any legislative action would be premature.

“Local and regional governments are employers and service providers. They know best how to balance workers’ rights with the need to ensure essential services run smoothly, day and night.”
— Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Employment, Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Press, Publications

Protecting local services

A new Charter asserts local governments’ rights over how public services are organised and delivered

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CEMR adopts European Charter to defend local self-government and services of general interest!

Local and regional governments are on the front lines of delivering essential public services, from waste collection and housing to education and healthcare. Yet, their ability to make decisions on how these services are provided is increasingly shaped, and at times constrained, by EU internal market rules. In response, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has adopted the European Charter on Local and Regional Services of General Interest, a call to reaffirm the role of local democracy in public service delivery.

This Charter sets out fundamental principles to ensure that municipalities and regions retain the freedom to define, organise, and deliver services in the way that best responds to local needs. It highlights that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model for public service provision, it is up to elected local governments to choose between direct delivery, public-private partnerships, outsourcing, or other legal forms.

The Charter underlines the growing tension between the EU’s market-oriented approach and the principle of local self-government. While the European Commission has promoted internal market rules as a tool for efficiency and competition, local and regional governments stress that services of general interest are not merely economic activities. They are social responsibilities, rooted in democratic choice and proximity to citizens.

Key articles in the Charter emphasise:

Local autonomy to decide how services are defined and delivered;
Exemptions from internal market rules for non-commercial, social, cultural, educational, or environmental services;
Recognition of inter-municipal cooperation and in-house provision as valid and lawful approaches;
Limits to EU intervention, stressing proportionality and subsidiarity.

CEMR is concerned that recent rulings from the European Court of Justice and some Commission practices risk undermining these democratic rights by imposing market principles too rigidly. This Charter is both a political statement and a tool for advocacy, calling on EU institutions to rebalance their approach and respect the democratic space of local and regional authorities.

In the broader context of building a strong and democratic Europe, CEMR’s message is clear: strong local services need strong local democracy. The Charter is a step forward in ensuring that local voices remain central to the future of public service provision in Europe.

Read the Charter:

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