Rights-based measures needed to remove barriers to access employment

While broadly supporting the areas identified by the European Commission in a consultation document, CESI stresses that efforts to increase labour market participation must be based on social rights and access to sustainable, quality employment.

Launched on July 22 2026, the consultation addresses obstacles preventing people from accessing employment, including insufficient skills, health limitations, care responsibilities, discrimination and inadequate access to support services.

Against the background of persistent labour and skills shortages alongside continued labour market exclusion, CESI considers coordinated measures necessary. However, policies must not reduce people to a potential source of additional labour or rely on sanctions and pressure to accept unsuitable jobs.

Quality employment and adequate social protection

For CESI, successful labour market integration cannot be measured solely by the number of people entering employment. Policies must also consider job security, pay, working conditions, access to training, career progression and long-term employment retention.

Individualised support should take account of people's qualifications, personal circumstances and care responsibilities, with their active participation in decisions concerning their employment pathways. Publicly supported placements must respect labour law and collective agreements and must not displace regular employment or encourage precarious work.

CESI also calls for adequate income protection throughout the transition into employment. Taking up work should lead to a genuine improvement in disposable income, without people losing essential support or facing unaffordable costs for childcare, transport or training. Sanctions should remain a measure of last resort, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Stronger public services and accessible care

According to CESI, effective labour market integration requires adequately funded and staffed public employment services working closely with social, health, education and care services.

CESI therefore calls for sustained public investment, manageable caseloads for employment service staff and coordinated, individualised support. Particular attention should be given to territorial disparities, including in rural and disadvantaged areas where limited transport, childcare or training opportunities can prevent access to employment.

Affordable and high-quality childcare and long-term care are equally important. CESI stresses that expanding access to care must go hand in hand with better pay, staffing and working conditions for care workers. Policies should also support women's economic independence and help reduce gender employment, pay and pension gaps, while respecting individual choices concerning working time.

Trade union involvement and enforceable rights

CESI emphasises that employers must also assume responsibility for removing barriers to employment. This includes preventing discrimination, ensuring accessible workplaces, providing reasonable accommodation and respecting workers' rights.

Digital tools used for employment services and job matching must be subject to data protection, human oversight and safeguards against discriminatory automated decisions. They should complement, rather than replace, accessible face-to-face services.

Drawing on the findings of its previous EU co-funded ACTIVER project, CESI stresses the importance of trade union participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of active labour market policies.

CESI's full consultation contribution is available here.

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