The 2019 EU Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions is part of the EU’s broader push to ensure that employment is both fair and protective against in-work poverty. It places particular emphasis on workers in insecure roles, such as platform jobs, casual contracts, or domestic labour, who are most at risk of low pay and unstable incomes. By requiring employers to provide clear, written terms, restricting excessively long probation periods, and guaranteeing the right to hold more than one job, the directive sets minimum safeguards against exploitation. It also tackles unfair practices like zero-hour contracts, which often lock people into poverty traps despite being employed. 

Crucially, these changes are not only about fairness in the labour market. More secure working conditions reduce stress and financial instability — two of the strongest drivers of poor health. The directive, therefore, contributes directly to closing health gaps across Europe. Because women are disproportionately represented in precarious and informal work, its implementation is also a step toward narrowing gender inequalities. For Member States, the directive is an opportunity to design wage systems and labour protections that leave fewer workers at risk of poverty while building a healthier and more inclusive economy. 

The EU Directive on Improving Working Conditions in Platform Work directly addresses one of the fastest-growing sources of in-work poverty: precarious jobs in the gig economy. By requiring Member States to clarify employment status, guarantee minimum wage protections, and extend access to social security, the directive aims to close the gap between traditional workers and those in non-standard forms of employment. This is especially important for platform workers, many of whom face unpredictable hours, unstable income, unfair wages, and limited rights - factors that can push people into poverty despite being employed. 

The directive also strengthens public health by tackling the financial insecurity and job stress linked to poor physical and mental health. With greater access to healthcare, social insurance, and stable earnings, workers are less exposed to preventable health risks. Over time, this shift can reduce inequalities in health outcomes while easing the burden on healthcare and social protection systems that often absorb the costs of precarious work and occupational diseases and conditions. By setting fairer wage floors and securing essential protections, the directive not only improves conditions for platform workers but also supports healthier, more resilient societies across the EU. 

The 2003 EU Working Time Directive sets limits on excessive hours, and guarantees rest and paid leave, both essential social protections, as Europe’s workforce ages and healthcare systems face growing strain. By capping the working week at 48 hours and safeguarding time off, it reduces burnout and health risks that drive people out of work prematurely, especially in physically and emotionally demanding sectors like healthcare. 

Crucially, fair wages and fair hours go hand in hand. Without decent pay, many workers are forced into long or multiple jobs, deepening in-work poverty and ill health. Enforcing the directive helps retain skilled staff, supports healthier careers, and contributes to more resilient labour markets across the EU. 

This 2019 EU Directive on Work–Life Balance for Parents and Carers guarantees paid leave and flexible work arrangements, helping workers stay in employment without sacrificing income security. It is of particular importance for women as the predominant care-giving workforce, and it strengthens fair wages by addressing gender gaps that often push families into in-work poverty.