Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by target group – category: Workers
Eurofound has identified 54 measures for this target group. Most of these measures fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery (33%).
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
|
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22 December 2021 |
Plan to boost social economy after COVID-19
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
10 April 2020 |
Civilian service extension and voluntary reactivation
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary suspension of some labour regulations for public servants
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2020 |
Temporary and exceptional support to the emergency reinforcement of public and solidary health and social care services
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 |
Exceptional regime suspending overtime limits
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 March 2021 |
Offset of additional corona-related income against pension removed
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
08 October 2021 Updated |
New legislation provides for rescue framework for small and micro companies
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary suspension of payment obligations for loans
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2021 |
Supporting measures for cultural operators and artists
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
22 February 2021 |
Partial reimbursement of the minimum wage increase
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Employment protection and retention |
14 September 2020 |
Public sector union Unison launches COVID-19 hardship fund for members
United Kingdom, Other initiatives or policies |
11 May 2020 |
Recoverable paid leave
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
31 March 2020 Updated |
Emergency measures relating to short-time working
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Reorientation of business activities |
18 December 2020 |
Incredible, Pick-up Service in Nicosia Mall
Cyprus, Company practices |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
22 December 2020 Updated |
Gozo Telework Scheme
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 November 2020 |
Guidance from the unions to the members about COVID-19 related issues
Denmark, Other initiatives or policies |
23 October 2020 |
National public sector collective agreement 2021
Lithuania, Bipartite collective agreements |
16 October 2020 Updated |
Exceptional aid to cover the extra cost of specific prevention equipment
France, Other initiatives or policies |
12 October 2020 |
Agreement on safety protocols for meat industry
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
12 October 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 safety protocols agreed in the construction sector
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
17 September 2020 |
Practical support for employers and employee representatives to ensure a healthy working life
Sweden, Other initiatives or policies |
15 September 2020 |
Improvement of working conditions for employees with serious health problems
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 May 2021 |
COVID-19: sick leave within the waiting period
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Teleworking and working from home in the public and broader public sector
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 Updated |
Telework - exceptional and temporary measure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
15 July 2020 |
Suspension of conditionality requirements for income support measures
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 July 2020 |
Income support for returning Romanian migrant workers, youth and elderly
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2020 Updated |
Extraordinary support for the reduction of self-employed economic activity
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 January 2021 Updated |
Instant support for employees with care duties
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 January 2022 |
Care allowance in case of emergency measures during the epidemic
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
10 October 2020 |
A one-off solidarity allowance for recipients of disability insurance compensation
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Governmental GBP 500 million fund for council tax relief for people in need
United Kingdom, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 |
Mortgage debt moratorium
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 February 2021 |
“Alliance against COVID”: Joint action by the social partners GSEE and GSEVEE and the radio station Alpha989
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
17 January 2021 Updated |
Exceptional and temporary regime of justified absences to family care
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 January 2021 Updated |
Easing access to basic income scheme
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
30 November 2020 Updated |
Support for apprenticeship: a bonus for companies
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 October 2020 |
EU social partners for the live performance sector issue joint statement
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
27 October 2020 |
Incentive scheme for the employment of former prisoners
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 October 2020 |
Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
11 October 2021 |
Training and employment for youth and people with a guaranteed minimum income
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
28 September 2020 |
Employment reintegration contract for disadvantaged workers
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2021 |
Need for strategy the EU textile sector to survive following the pandemic
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
20 July 2020 Updated |
Apprentice bonus for companies creating apprenticeships
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 July 2020 Updated |
The Kickstart Initiative and incentivising apprenticeships
United Kingdom, Other initiatives or policies |
18 May 2022 |
Subsidy for low-income employees
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 May 2022 |
Access to integration and language courses
Germany, Other initiatives or policies |
13 May 2022 |
Subsidy for fuels for low- to medium-income individuals and taxi services
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 April 2020 Updated |
Suspension of the trial period in businesses affected by the crisis
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2021 Updated |
Exceptional aid for the recruitment of work-study students
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 March 2021 |
Restoring the European tourism sector and air connectivity: Call for a coordinated approach
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
14 January 2022 |
New annual grant for apprenticeship employers
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
12 January 2022 |
New measures concerning re-employment contracts
Luxembourg, Other initiatives or policies |
10 January 2022 |
Exceptional financial support for training organisations
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 May 2022
This publication consists of individual country reports on working life during 2021 for 28 countries (the 27 EU Member States and Norway).
Publication24 June 2020
COVID-19: Policy responses across Europe
This report aims to present an overview of both large-scale government measures and collective agreements that impact on large groups of workers.
16 June 2022
Throughout 2021, the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, specific occupational health and safety rules were reintroduced due to increases in infection rates.
Article16 June 2022
Back to work after COVID-19: Testing, vaccines and green certificates
In the second pandemic year 2021, access to one's place of work was increasingly dependent on providing proof of either having been tested, vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in several countries.
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.