EU employers are now openly calling for a “Social Omnibus” directive, given that the search for competitiveness also involves a revision of European social legislation.
In a statement issued by BusinessEurope, five texts are prioritised: the pay transparency directive; the directive on improving working conditions in platform work; the directive on transparent and predictable working conditions; the older directive on working time; and the REACH regulation (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemical substances). In the case of the pay transparency directive, BusinessEurope is seeking a two-year postponement of the transposition deadline, currently set at 7 July 2026.
The stated objective appears to be to give Member States and companies more time to adapt, while at the same time identifying possible avenues for simplification. This position means that the employers are now directly at odds with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who had previously indicated that the text and its timetable for implementation could not be renegotiated.
The document sets out the amendments deemed necessary for each directive. The statement was unveiled at a panel discussion on the theme of “Stepping up EU simplification efforts in the field of social affairs”, in the presence of Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights.
European employers in the chemical industry (ECEG) had already published, in November 2025, a table listing several social directives that they believe need revising, including the recently adopted European Works Council directive. Ceemet, which represents European metal, engineering and technology-based industries, and has been “on manoeuvres” for several months, set out its position in a statement in early December, alongside other sectoral organisations, calling for “a simplification of the social acquis”, a step deemed crucial for maintaining industrial competitiveness (see press release).
Ceemet stresses that this effort is not about “deregulation”, but rather “about making rules consistent, removing outdated provisions and ensuring that reporting and compliance obligations are aligned so businesses can focus on productivity and growth rather than navigating administrative burdens”.
Leaving aside the technical aspects, the message to the Commission is clear: prioritise effective implementation of the existing standards by tightening up controls rather than adopt new binding obligations. This position comes at a time when the EU executive is preparing a future Quality Jobs Act, which is expected by the year end.
The call for a “Social Omnibus” package might therefore constitute a structured approach to modifying the legislative agenda and containing any further expansion of the European legal framework.
(Published in IR Notes 268 – 25 February 2026)
