European Commission proposes Fair Labour Mobility package
On 15 September 2026 the European Commission adopted the Fair Labour Mobility package, comprising one Communication and five legislative proposals: a Regulation establishing the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), a Skills Portability Act, a Regulation strengthening the European Labour Authority (ELA), an amending Directive on professional qualifications, and a Directive on qualifications of third-country nationals. The package aims to let workers handle social security and health insurance documents online, speed up cross-border recognition of qualifications, and cut administrative burdens for companies recruiting or posting staff across the EU. The Commission estimates around EUR 6 b…
Impact and considerations
For employers posting, recruiting or delivering services across EU borders, ESSPASS and the qualification reforms will change how social security documents are verified and how professional qualifications are approved, shortening waiting times and lowering compliance costs, though adoption by the European Parliament a…
Key points
- The package comprises one Communication and five legislative proposals covering the European Social Security Pass, skills portability, a strengthened European Labour Authority, an amending Directive on professional qualifications, and a Directive on third-country nationals' qualifications.
- ESSPASS will allow online requesting and receiving of social security documents, including the European Health Insurance Card and the portable document A1 for posted workers, stored and presented via the EU Digital Identity Wallet.
- Recognition of professional qualifications will speed up: from 3 months to 5 weeks for automatic recognition and from 4 months to 11 weeks for other applicants.
- The Commission estimates around EUR 6 billion in benefits by 2040 once fully in place, from faster qualification recognition, real-time verification of social security documents and fraud avoidance.
- Digital social security documents will be phased in: the A1 document one year after the ESSPASS Regulation enters into force, followed by the European Health Insurance Card and other documents within three years.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- European Commission
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 15 Sept 2026, 06:00
- Page published
- 16 Sept 2026, 00:08
- Last updated
- 15 Sept 2026, 06:00
- Original links
- European Commission Press Corner：Commission proposes ambitious measures to strengthen fair labour mobility (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 15 Sept 2026, 06:00