Imagine a Europe where everyone who wants to work can find a decent job, including people with disabilities and care and support workers. Where wages pay the bills, and quality care services make it possible to balance work and personal life. 

This is the vision behind the Quality Jobs Roadmap, published yesterday by the European Commission. EASPD welcomes it and believes that it is an important first step.  

The Roadmap sets out what the EU wants to do to make jobs fairer and more secure: from fair wages and working conditions, to strong social protection and inclusive labour markets. It puts a big focus on training and upskilling, and on support for fair job transitions. It also aims to strengthen social dialogue, collective bargaining and includes plans for a monitoring framework based on job-quality indicators. The Roadmap will guide both legislative measures such as the Quality Jobs Act, and non-legislative measures, linked with broader EU strategies.  

But a Roadmap alone won't change lives. What's needed now is concrete, strong and actionable measures. That's why we are setting out what EASPD welcomes, and what still needs to be addressed. 

What does EASPD welcome? 

The Roadmap rightly recognises that care and support services are essential for people and the economy, which enable millions to work and participate in society.  

EASPD also welcomes: 

• Push for State aid rules that can support employers hiring people with disabilities

• Public procurement reform so that contracts prioritise quality, not just the lowest price

• Better data and monitoring to track progress on job quality

• Strong focus on skills development, fair wages and mental health at work

• Adequate funding through the European Social Fund Plus and via the next EU budget

• A balanced view of AI’s potential and its constraints in supporting employees. 

Many of these measures echo proposals EASPD submitted in its position paper for the Roadmap consultations. 

Where must the Roadmap go further? 

However, some crucial gaps remain. EASPD members facilitate access to employment for millions of people with disabilities, while also employing care and support workers. We call for strengthening the disability mainstreaming in the next steps after this first communication, as well as the reinforced emphasis on the care and support sector, which has a big job creation potential in Europe. In particular, we call for as an initial reaction: 

1. Move beyond the broad label "vulnerable workers": people with disabilities and care and support workers face specific barriers. They need visible, targeted measures, not just generic policies. 

2. Promote existing solutions: scale up the Disability Employment Package and other proven practices that already work across Europe. 

3. A Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee, inspired by the Youth Guarantee, ensuring coordinated, long-term support for people with disabilities to find and keep quality jobs. 

4. Concrete, actionable steps and solutions: translate principles into practical measures with clear targets, timelines, and responsibilities by the Member States. 

From Roadmap to Act 

The Quality Jobs Roadmap sends the right message. The next step must be transforming this into a strong Quality Jobs Act that places people with disabilities and care workers at the centre. The Act should be drafted over the next year, in consultations with social and other partners, as mentioned by Roxana Minzatu, European Commissioner responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs, and Preparedness. 

EASPD believes that quality jobs for all are possible, and the Roadmap is a welcome first step. Now is the time to turn it into lasting change.