Members of the European Parliament have approved a series of recommendations for a new European legislative initiative. This initiative aims to establish minimum requirements for preventing, eliminating, or reducing psychosocial risks related to work that can lead to professional stress, burnout, as well as mental and physical disorders.
The vote passed with 41 votes in favor, 12 against, and four deputies abstained. The parliamentarians supported the future initiative of the European Commission, which will be responsible for setting minimum standards to protect workers from these psychosocial threats within the European Union (EU).
Deputies insist on introducing mandatory requirements for employers to ensure the protection of employees' mental and physical health and to guarantee safe and decent working conditions. They also demand that the European Commission and member states officially recognize that psychosocial risks at work can cause occupational diseases.
According to data from the International Labour Organization presented to the European Parliament, more than 840,000 people die annually due to health problems related to psychosocial risks. Among the proposed measures is the requirement for employers to conduct regular assessments of psychosocial risks, taking into account factors such as excessive workload and high work intensity, as well as implementing specific action plans.
Furthermore, deputies advocate for the development of special policies against violence, harassment, bullying, and discriminatory practices that can harm the dignity or health of workers. They believe that any significant changes in work organization, including remote work or the introduction of automated decision-making and monitoring systems, must be preceded by an assessment of psychosocial risks in collaboration with workers and their representatives. Deputies also confirm the right of workers to disconnect from work.
For workers who were absent due to psychosocial risks, deputies call for organizing a supported and sustainable return to work through individual plans, which may include adjustments to schedules, organization, tasks, or workload. The report's reporter, Belgian deputy Estelle Solemans, noted that the document is a 'step forward' because it requires the EU to respond to issues that are 'increasing across Europe and exacerbated by the growing use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the workplace.' Annual costs for work-related depression in the EU are estimated at 100 billion euros. The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on this initiative during its plenary session in October 2026, after which the European Commission will have three months to respond with the measures it intends to take or justify its refusal to submit a legislative proposal.