GWU Calls For Stronger EU Legislation On Workplace Mental Health

The General Workers’ Union (GWU) is calling for stronger European legislation to protect workers from workplace stress, burnout and other psychosocial risks following a European Parliament vote in support of new measures.

The GWU’s Professionals, Finance and Services Section, represented by Section Secretary Riccarda Darmanin, recently participated in a workshop organised by Eurocadres at the European Parliament, focusing on workplace mental health and psychosocial risks.

The workshop included discussions with MEP Estelle Ceulemans, who presented the report calling for stronger measures to address risks such as excessive workloads, harassment, job insecurity and the impact of technological changes on workers’ wellbeing.

The report proposes binding EU legislation requiring employers to identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks through regular assessments, preventive action plans and stronger consultation with employees.

It also highlights the need to address the causes of work-related stress and burnout, including inadequate staffing, poor work organisation and unrealistic performance expectations. Other concerns include the effects of artificial intelligence, remote working and increased workplace monitoring, alongside the importance of workers’ right to disconnect outside normal working hours.

On 6 October, the European Parliament voted in support of the report, strengthening calls from trade unions for binding EU rules on psychosocial risks at work.

The GWU welcomed the vote, stressing the role of trade unions and collective bargaining in creating safer working environments. The union said employers and workers’ representatives must work together to protect employees’ mental health, dignity and wellbeing, ensuring that workers are safeguarded from psychological risks as well as physical hazards.

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