EU Trade Unions Urge Circular Economy Act to Tie Public Funding to Workers' Rights
Updated
Updated · EUobserver · Sep 15
EU Trade Unions Urge Circular Economy Act to Tie Public Funding to Workers' Rights
3 articles · Updated · EUobserver · Sep 15
Summary
European trade unions said the EU’s planned Circular Economy Act must make quality jobs, collective bargaining and worker protections core goals, not just recycling, materials access and competitiveness targets.
The unions argued circularity depends on workers across design, repair, waste collection and recycling, and warned the transition could otherwise expand low pay, insecure contracts and bogus self-employment.
They called for occupational safety rules to be built into product design and waste handling, with full information on hazardous substances and stronger inspection and enforcement across the value chain.
Public funding, procurement, guarantees and tax incentives for circular projects should carry binding labour, environmental and fiscal conditions, with support suspended or recovered if companies breach them.
The demands also include negotiated transition plans, paid training rights and limits on waste exports to countries lacking equivalent labour and environmental protections, framing the act as a test of whether Europe can make circularity socially just.