Mutual learning on access to social protection for vulnerable groups of workers

The European Commission organised a Mutual Learning workshop on access to social protection for workers and the self- employed – this time focussing on how vulnerable groups can access unemployment benefits when losing their job or having to stop their economic activity. 

These workshops aim at supporting Member States and contributing to the implementation of the principles set out in the Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and self-employed.   

Following the latest workshop organised in November 2024 about data, indicators and monitoring systems, the focus this time was on access to unemployment benefits for vulnerable groups of workers. 

The aim of the workshop was to take stock of recent reforms and innovative approaches to extend formal coverage, improve effective coverage and promote the adequacy of unemployment benefits, while paying attention to possible trade off with employment incentives and financial sustainability. 

Participants to the workshop also discussed, beyond unemployment benefits, how to apply the principle of “labour status neutrality” and to promote the preservation and transferability of rights when workers change (or combine) statuses. 

Background    

Access to social protection and healthcare are fundamental rights in the EU. Principle 12 of the European Pillar of Social Rights states that 'regardless of the type and duration of their employment relationship, workers, and, under comparable conditions, the self-employed have the right to adequate social protection'. To implement this principle, the Council adopted in November 2019 a Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed.   

In January 2023, the Commission’s report showed a mixed picture in the implementation efforts of the Recommendation, three years after its adoption by the Council. It concluded that further implementation efforts are needed, in particular as regards existing gaps in working persons’ access to unemployment benefits. 

Unemployment is one of the branches of social protection to which a large number of workers and self-employed do not have access. According to the latest update of the EU Monitoring framework on access to social protection, in 13 Member States, groups of non-standard workers (such as those in civil law contracts, domestic workers, those earning below a certain income, etc) lack coverage for unemployment benefits. It is also the case for self-employed in 12 Member States (see infographic based on MISSOC). Moreover, in some other Member States, some of these groups only have voluntary access, most often with low take up rate.  

The thematic papers, presentations and interactive discussions during the workshop helped identify relevant practices and actions taken by Member States to improve access to unemployment benefits to vulnerable groups of workers.  The principle of “labour status neutrality” and the objectives of preservation and transferability of rights when workers change (or combine) statuses were also in the focus of the presentations and discussions.