On 19 May 2026, the European Parliament's The Left group tabled a series of amendments to a resolution on reducing work-related fatalities, shifting the text from a commemorative and aspirational document toward a platform for demanding concrete regulatory and enforcement reforms. The amendments introduce specific numerical targets for labour inspectorates and call for stricter EU rules on subcontracting, including equal treatment for subcontracted workers and dissuasive sanctions.
The amendments, all tabled by The Left group, target several key areas. On labour inspectorate resources, Amendment 7 sets a specific target of moving from one inspector per 10,000 workers to one per 5,000 workers, and demands effective powers for inspectors, such as ordering immediate work interruption in cases of serious and imminent danger, including extreme heat. This goes beyond the original text's call for 'adequate resources' and represents a significant push for binding commitments.
On subcontracting regulation, Amendments 4, 8, and 9 introduce a new rationale arguing that clear rules on subcontracting benefit EU competitiveness and combat criminal infiltration. They call for stricter EU rules, including equal treatment for subcontracted workers, dissuasive sanctions, and the possibility for Member States to adopt more protective national measures. Amendment 9 demands an assessment of EU measures to ensure public procurement does not reward the lowest bid at the expense of occupational safety and health, including training requirements and the exclusion of non-compliant operators.
A symbolic change is proposed in Amendment 5, which shifts the proposed European Day of Remembrance from 8 August (anniversary of the Bois du Cazier mine disaster) to 28 April, aligning it with the International Labour Organization's World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Amendment 6 strengthens the call for enforcement by adding a specific focus on cases of gross negligence leading to serious injury or death, and by linking adequate resources to effective compliance.
As only The Left group has tabled amendments, there is no direct comparison of group positions. However, the amendments implicitly challenge the original text's more moderate tone, suggesting a divergence from a likely centrist or centre-right preference for softer, non-binding language and a focus on voluntary measures rather than regulatory mandates.
The resolution, once amended, will be debated and voted on in plenary. The amendments, if adopted, would transform the resolution into a more prescriptive document with potential implications for EU-level occupational safety and health policy. The Council and Commission will have to consider the Parliament's position in any future legislative initiatives on this matter.
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