At a European Parliament Employment Committee hearing on 2 June 2026, trade unions and employers staked out incompatible positions on the next EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post-2027. ETUC Senior Advisor Ignacio Doreste Hernandez called for binding legislative obligations on psychosocial risks and musculoskeletal disorders, while BusinessEurope's Clemens Etzerodt Ornstrup argued for outcome-based regulation and alignment with competitiveness priorities.
Doreste Hernandez welcomed the current framework's Vision Zero approach but pushed back on its reliance on soft law, urging an expansion to occupational diseases, closing gaps for domestic workers, and strengthening labour inspectorates. In contrast, Ornstrup described the framework directive as a 'gold standard' and warned that OSH regulation must not become a barrier to competitiveness, advocating for reduced administrative burdens and use of social partner agreements modelled on the minimum wage directive.
DG EMPL Deputy Director General Stefan Olsson noted the framework's added value in bundling legislation, tools, and funding, and confirmed an external study and advisory committee opinion will feed into the new strategy. EU-OSHA Executive Director William Cockburn stressed the need to address digital, green, and demographic transitions, psychosocial risks, and non-standard employment, while improving data for monitoring. ILO's Joaquim Pintado Nunes highlighted alignment between the EU framework and the ILO global strategy, urging universal ratification of fundamental OSH conventions.
The hearing exposed a clear cleavage between legislative action and flexibility. Binding rules would impose compliance costs on employers, particularly SMEs, but could improve worker protection and reduce occupational diseases. Outcome-based regulation would give businesses more flexibility but risk uneven enforcement and weaker protections for vulnerable workers. Next steps include Commission reporting on directive implementation and stakeholder consultations.