Brussels,

Social issues on Transport

MOBILITY & TRANSPORT

Access to transport for all

"Access to transport for all" is a fundamental policy priority of the EU, underscored by the European Pillar of Social Rights. Principle 20 underscores transport as an essential service and emphasizes the need for quality in these services, alongside broad support for access, encompassing availability, accessibility, and affordability, especially for those in need.

Key Insights from the Commission's Report and Studies:
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  1. Report on Access to Essential Services in the EU (2023): The Commission's report reveals that individuals at risk of poverty or social exclusion face notable challenges in accessing crucial services like energy, transport, and digital communication. Specifically, the report indicates that 2.4% of the EU population and 5.8% of those at risk of poverty struggle to afford regular use of public transport. Factors influencing transport access include service quality and frequency, infrastructure condition, and digital and physical accessibility. The report also highlights the need for up-to-date EU-level data on transport affordability to thoroughly understand and address these issues.
  2. Study on the Social Dimension of the Future EU Transport System (2022): This study delves into the social aspects of the evolving EU transport system, examining the challenges and opportunities it presents to various user groups regarding affordability, reliability, and accessibility. Recognizing that different groups have distinct transport needs, the study underscores the importance of an inclusive transport system accessible to all. It provides valuable insights into the diverse challenges faced by different user groups and across Member States and proposes recommendations to address these challenges effectively.  Final report and Executive summary

Working conditions

The establishment of fair working conditions is crucial for a functional Single Market, ensuring a level playing field. Every worker in the EU is entitled to minimum rights including health and safety at work, equal opportunities, protection against discrimination, and adherence to labor law. Member States are responsible for aligning their national laws with these rights, especially those defined by EU law.

Challenges in the Transport Sector:
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  1. Perception of Working Conditions: The transport sector often grapples with a negative image concerning working conditions, potentially deterring groups like young people and women from pursuing careers in this field. Discussions during the Youth Policy Dialogue on Jobs in Transport, part of the 2022 European Year of Youth, revealed concerns among young transport professionals across Europe. They noted declining working conditions and low wages as major deterrents, particularly in crisis situations or when faced with rising energy costs.
  2. Variability in Social Protection and Labor Law: With the transport sector being largely liberalized and characterized by high worker mobility, social protection and labor law enforcement largely fall under the jurisdiction of Member States. This leads to varied implementation and enforcement levels across different states, creating issues like ambiguity in social rules for workers, low enforcement levels, and the potential for unfair employment practices.

Role of the European Labour Authority:

The European Labour Authority is instrumental in enhancing the application and enforcement of EU rules in this domain, thereby improving the functioning of the Single Market. It provides individuals and employers with essential information on working or operating in another EU country and bolsters cooperation between national authorities. This includes reinforcing inspections, addressing undeclared work, and combating fraud.

Additional Resources:

For further information on labor law, EU social security coordination, and practical guidelines on applicable legislation in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, the following resources are available:
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These resources and mechanisms are part of the EU's efforts to ensure fair working conditions, address sector-specific challenges, and support the harmonious functioning of the Single Market.

Social dialogue

Social dialogue and the involvement of workers is one of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. At European level, employers’ and workers’ organisations (the social partners) regularly meet within sectoral social dialogue committees established in the various segments of the transport sector:
​The European Commission supports these committees, which are intended as representative bodies for consultation, joint initiatives and negotiation and were established with due regard for the autonomy of the social partners. The Commission has regular exchanges with the European social partners in the transport sector.

Automation and digitalisation in transport

​The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy outlines a vision for a future where transport is sustainable, smart, and resilient. A key milestone in this strategy is the large-scale deployment of automated mobility by 2030, acknowledging that automation and digitalization in transport bring both challenges and opportunities for the workforce.

In alignment with this strategy, the European Commission issued a Recommendation in 2023 to address the impacts of automation and digitalization on the transport workforce. This followed extensive discussions and considerations of the findings from the  2021 Study on the social dimension of the transition to automation and digitalisation in transport, focusing on the labour. force. A participatory stakeholder conference was held on 21 March 2023 to further engage with relevant stakeholders on this matter.

Additionally, Another horizontal study, published in 2022, looks at the social dimension of the future EU transport system regarding users and passengers, This study offers crucial insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by different user groups and across various Member States, along with recommendations for addressing these issues. These efforts form part of the EU's commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to a more automated and digitized transport sector, taking into account the needs and well-being of the workforce and the wider community.


Social issues per transport mode