EPR submits input to Quality Jobs Act consultation

EPR submits input to Quality Jobs Act consultation

On 29 September 2026, EPR submitted input to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence * on the Quality Jobs Act. 

In December 2025 the European Commission published the Quality Jobs Roadmap, a package of initiatives that aims to foster quality jobs in the EU (More information in previous EPR Article available here). As part of the Quality Jobs Roadmap, the European Commission is developing a Quality Jobs Act. The European Commission is currently still in the process of drafting the proposal for the act, and has only involved social partners (i.e. employers and trade unions). Therefore, this open public consultation is an important opportunity for EPR to share its members’ views and priorities on the topic.

According to the European Commission, the Quality Jobs Act aims to ensure that employment keeps pace with the modern economy; improve the protection of workers’ safety and physical and mental health at work, and address new ways of working and the use of new technologies at work.

Having collected input from the Employment Working Group, EPR provided input in the following key areas that the European Commission is planning to cover in the Act: 

• Right to disconnect and telework: EPR supports the development of EU-level measures that would enable disconnection of workers with disabilities during their rest time.
• Algorithmic Management and AI at work: EPR would support the creation of EU legislation, such as a Directive, regulating the use of algorithms for managing, monitoring and recruiting workers that would address the risks of discrimination that candidates and employees often face with AI algorithms, including the risks experienced by persons with disabilities.
• Occupational safety and health at work: EPR would welcome the Workplace Directive to better address psychosocial, ergonomic and heat- and weather-related risks.
• Protection of Worker’s rights in subcontracting chains: The Quality Jobs Act should therefore ensure that cost pressures throughout subcontracting and commissioning chains do not undermine decent working conditions or the quality and continuity of services for persons with disabilities.
• Just Transition: EPR considers that disability inclusion should be explicitly reflected in any upcoming actions of the Quality Jobs Act in the area of Just Transitions.
• Enforcement and the role of social partners: The Quality Jobs Act should focus on effective enforcement, including: accessible complaint and redress mechanisms; effective enforcement of rights relating to non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation; and involving persons with disabilities and their organisations in the development and implementation of policies affecting their employment.

In addition to these key elements,the Quality Jobs Act should explicitly address the link between labour and skills shortages and the inclusion of persons with disabilities; recognise the potential of public procurement, and the upcoming Public Procurement Regulation, as a tool to facilitate access for persons with disabilities to higher-quality jobs and to a wider range of occupations; and be supported by a strong European Care Deal that supports the sector of services for persons with disabilities address its multiple challenges (e.g. limited resources, understaffing and weak worker retention).

* The definition of “call for evidence” is available at the EPR Knowledge Hub Glossary of key EU policy terms, here.

Quality Jobs Act Call for Evidence available here.

EPR Input to Quality Jobs Act Call for Evidence available here.