The Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on updated rules designed to strengthen protection for workers exposed to hazardous substances that may cause serious illnesses, including cancer and asthma

The agreement relates to the sixth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD), which updates EU occupational health and safety legislation by introducing stricter measures against workplace exposure to dangerous substances.

“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to ensuring a high level of protection for workers against serious occupational health risks. By introducing new occupational exposure limit values, we are ensuring that the Union’s legislative framework keeps pace with the latest scientific evidence and technological developments. This outcome will help create safer working environments for millions of workers across Europe and further strengthen the prevention of work-related illnesses,” said Marinos Moushouttas, Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, Republic of Cyprus.

The revised rules are expected to prevent approximately 1,700 cases of lung cancer and 19,000 other work-related illnesses over the next 40 years.

Under the proposed revision, the directive will introduce new occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 1,4-dioxane. It will also add welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes covered under Annex I of the directive.

As part of the provisional agreement, the Council and Parliament agreed to expand the scope of the directive by introducing an OEL for isoprene. The agreement also extends the transitional period for applying the new OEL for PAHs to seven years and expands the sectors eligible for this transition period to include all carbon and graphite manufacturers.

The revised framework will also introduce requirements for regular breaks for workers using personal protective equipment (PPE) and clarify rules governing PPE use in relation to existing legislation.

In addition, the agreement updates the definitions of 'carcinogen', 'mutagen' and 'reprotoxic substance' to reflect the inclusion of welding fumes in Annex I, recognising their potential reprotoxic effects. It also highlights the need for further guidance on welding fumes and notes that establishing occupational exposure limits alone does not completely remove risks to workers’ health and safety.

The provisional agreement must now receive formal approval from both the Council and the European Parliament. Once adopted, the legislation will enter into force following legal and linguistic review.

The CMRD establishes measures to prevent and control risks arising from exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances in workplaces across the EU. The directive requires the introduction of occupational exposure limits wherever possible.

Following an evaluation of EU occupational safety and health legislation in 2017, the CMRD has undergone several updates, with five revisions already adopted addressing more than 40 hazardous substances. The European Commission presented its proposal for the sixth revision on 18 July 2025.

The United Arab Emirates highlighted its approach to building a flexible, inclusive and future-ready labour market at the 2026 BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting (LEMM), presenting its experience in using innovation, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to support workforce development and economic growth

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, represented the UAE at the meeting, which was hosted by India as part of its 2026 BRICS Chairship.

During the ministerial session, Dr. Al Awar outlined the UAE's labour market model, which is built on collaboration between the government and private sector, supported by agile legislation, technological innovation and investment in AI.

He said strengthening social protection, supporting labour markets, empowering women, developing workforce skills and adopting digital technologies are essential components of resilient, inclusive and sustainable labour markets.

Dr. Al Awar explained that the UAE has developed a labour market that encourages cooperation between the public and private sectors while attracting global talent and maintaining a legislative framework capable of adapting to economic and technological change. He noted that workers from more than 200 nationalities contribute to one of the world's most diverse labour markets.

"This approach has made it possible to achieve remarkable results over the past five years, as the size of the workforce in the private sector more than doubled, the number of registered companies increased by 46%, and women’s participation in the labour market grew by 109%," he explained.

He added that these achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of national policies in supporting employment creation and economic expansion.

AI driving the future of labour markets

Highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence in workforce management, Dr. Al Awar said governments can move beyond service automation by using AI to anticipate labour market demands and improve policy decisions.

"Artificial intelligence offers governments a strategic tool enabling them to transition from automating services to anticipating labour market needs, identifying future skills, enhancing compliance, and supporting data-driven decision-making," Dr. Al Awar continued.

He explained that the UAE is increasingly deploying AI-powered solutions to deliver innovative services for workers and businesses while strengthening predictive labour market analysis and improving government responsiveness.

Digital platforms enhance worker protection

Dr. Al Awar also presented the UAE's digital platforms designed to strengthen worker protection through services covering wage protection, occupational health and safety, and labour dispute resolution. These platforms improve transparency while using predictive analytics and smart monitoring to identify workplace risks and support early intervention.

Addressing the evolution of social protection systems, he said, "The social security ecosystem in the UAE continues to evolve to keep pace with the expansion of modern work settings, particularly digital platform work," he said. "By doing so, it can offer greater opportunities for employment, ensure decent work conditions, reinforce fairness, and provide appropriate protection for all workers."

He further highlighted the importance of investing in skills development, noting that the AI-powered UAE Skills platform helps identify future occupations and align education and training programmes with labour market requirements.

BRICS members adopt joint declaration

Dr. Al Awar also expressed appreciation for India's leadership of the BRICS Group and its organisation of the Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, emphasising the importance of international cooperation in addressing emerging labour market challenges.

The meeting concluded with member states adopting the Declaration of the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, reaffirming cooperation in areas including social protection, skills development, women's economic participation and digital transformation across labour markets.

According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE welcomed the adoption of the declaration and reaffirmed its commitment to working with fellow BRICS members to develop collaborative solutions that promote resilient, inclusive and sustainable labour markets.

SPS North America has been recognised among North America's Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces for 2026 by the Inspiring Workplaces Group, acknowledging organisations that cultivate workplace cultures built on trust, purpose, inclusion and employee experience.

The recognition reflects the company's sustained investment in programmes that support employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing, learning and communication for its nearly 3,000 employees across North America.

Employee investment delivers measurable results

SPS earned the recognition for its people-first strategy, which has driven improvements in employee engagement, professional development and business performance.

Over the past year, employee satisfaction increased by seven points, while participation in the company's annual employee survey reached 89%, demonstrating high levels of engagement and trust across the workforce.

Employees completed more than 209,000 learning enrolments and accumulated over 100,000 hours of professional development, reinforcing the company's focus on continuous learning and career advancement.

These workforce investments also supported strong business performance, contributing to a 95% client retention rate, a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 79 and a customer satisfaction score of 91% for service delivery.

"Creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered is fundamental to how we deliver for our clients," said Valerie Mahoney, CHRO, North America, SPS. "We're committed to investing in leadership, learning, wellbeing, and open communication because exceptional employee experiences drive exceptional client experiences. We're honored to be recognized among North America's most inspiring workplace."

Recognition highlights people-focused strategy

The company was recognised for its integrated approach to employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing, continuous learning and internal communication across its geographically dispersed workforce.

Presented in association with Engagedly, the Inspiring Workplaces Awards assess organisations across six key areas: Culture & Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion & Belonging, Employee Voice and Employee Experience.

Commenting on this year's winners, Matt Manners, Founder of Inspiring Workplaces Group, said recognised organisations demonstrate that "when businesses put People First and build cultures based on trust, inclusion and belonging, they create the resilience and agility needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving world of work."

Strengthening workplace culture across North America

SPS has developed a scalable workplace culture that supports nearly 3,000 employees serving clients at more than 480 locations across over 120 cities throughout North America. The company's approach centres on employee engagement, professional development, wellbeing and fostering a sense of belonging.

Its strategy is further supported by findings from the 2026 State of the Workplace report, co-authored with WORKTECH Academy, which found that engaged employees create greater value for clients, strengthen collaboration with colleagues and contribute to improved business performance. The findings reinforce SPS' view that investing in employee experience benefits employees, clients and the wider communities they serve.

Continued recognition

The latest honour adds to SPS' recent industry recognition, including being named Most Innovative Company of the Year at the American Business Awards, inclusion in IAOP's Global Outsourcing 100 for the 13th consecutive year, and recognition for Best Corporate Training Program at the Globee Awards. Together, these achievements reflect the company's continued focus on innovation, employee development and delivering high-quality client experiences.