The European Committee of social rights (ECSR) has published its 2025 conclusions. These legal assessments of the performance of signatory countries in terms of key work-related rights protected by the European Social Charter reveal shortcomings in the guarantee of labour rights in many European countries.
“Despite some signs of progress, the committee is very concerned by the long way to go in many states parties when it comes to guaranteeing key work-related rights protected by the European Social Charter. The committee’s 2025 conclusions make clear that significant ongoing challenges include excessive working hours, inadequate safeguards for certain types of jobs (those in the gig or platform economy; telework; jobs requiring intense attention or high performance) and ongoing gender pay inequality,” underlined Aoife Nolan, President of the European Committee of social rights.
The ECSR noted that no measures have been taken in member countries to encourage or strengthen the positive freedom of association of workers in those above-mentioned sectors, which traditionally have a low rate of unionisation.
Broad range of countries examined
The conclusions examine the application of the social charter in those countries that have not accepted the collective complaints procedure which enables complaints about rights violations to be brought before the committee by social partners, international NGOs and others. They focus on specific provisions relating to just conditions of work, safe and healthy working conditions, fair remuneration, the right to organise and bargain collectively, and equal opportunities for women and men in employment.
The countries concerned are: Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands in respect of Curaçao, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Significant issues observed
The committee identified significant problems of non-conformity, notably:
- excessive working hours – in several countries, some occupational sectors still allow weekly working times exceeding 60 hours, undermining the health and safety of workers;
- inadequate protection for vulnerable category of workers – many countries have yet to extend adequate health and safety protections to vulnerable categories of workers (such as digital platform workers, posted workers, and self-employed workers, among others);
- gender pay gap and parity – the persistence of gender-based inequalities in remuneration and decision-making roles was observed in most countries examined, with little measurable progress have been made in reducing the gender pay gap or increasing women’s representation on company boards;
- barriers to effective collective bargaining – structural and legal obstacles continue to hinder collective bargaining coverage and the exercise of the right to strike in many countries. Important obstacles include blanket prohibitions on civil servants, and more specifically on the police and prison-service employees, air traffic control, and healthcare employees from striking;
- failures to address new and emerging risks – the lack of comprehensive responses to psychosocial and climate change-related risks in the workplace was observed in many countries, particularly affecting vulnerable workers with insufficient legal protections in place, including for the right to disconnect.
The ECSR encourages signatory countries to act promptly on recommendations, strengthen protections for all workers, and promote equality and collective rights as the bedrock of social justice and inclusion across Europe.
The legal assessments underline the crucial role of the European Social Charter as Europe’s safeguard for social rights and the ECSR’s role as the guardian of those rights.
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