On 14 December 2023, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament agreed on a text for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
It requires formal approval by the Legal Affairs Committee and the European Parliament as a whole, as well as by the Council (EU governments) to enter into force.
It aims to enhance the protection of the environment and human rights in the EU and globally.
The Commission proposal was introduced on 23 February 2022, and the Council adopted its general approach on 1 December 2022.
On 30 November 2023, Eurofound published a new research report on the right to disconnect.
The report is based on a survey of employees and HR managers in Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain. It examines how the right to disconnect is implemented at the company level.
On 24 November 2023, presidents and chief executives of the member federations of BusinessEurope met in Brussels to present their priorities for the next Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
On 8 December 2023, the Council presidency and the European Parliament's negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act.
The Act aims to ensure that AI systems in the EU respect fundamental rights and values, while stimulating innovation and investment in AI in Europe.
Both Parliament and Council must formally adopt the agreed text for it to become EU law.
The AI Act should apply two years after it enters into force.
The 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) took place in Geneva from 11 to 20 October 2023, marking the centenary of the first Conference.
Workers, employers, and governments from ILO member state delegates from around 140 countries addressed critical issues related to labour market statistics and ILO statistical activities.
Topics covered ranged from informality, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, violence and harassment at work, international labour migration, International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), child and forced labour, and cooperatives.
It aims to help employers comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and provides practical advice.
"Fit for 55" is a policy package adopted in 2021 by EU policymakers that contains critical objectives to achieve a 55 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
On 25 October 2023, Eurofound released a new report that forecasts how the “Fit for 55” policy package may affect employment in the EU by 2030.
According to the report, employment gains will vary widely among countries and regions depending on their reliance on carbon-intensive industries and their ability to exploit greening opportunities.
On 27 September 2023, ILO published a new policy brief on occupational safety and health (OSH) in a just transition.
The policy brief aims to provide information and recommendations to implement a just transition with a focus on occupational safety and health, considering each country's needs and priorities.