A seminar on “The world of work in times of radical change – priorities for trade unions to ensure social progress” took place in Sofia / Bulgaria from 4-7 March 2026, organised by NBH (Nell-Breuning-Haus) in cooperation with Podkrepa (Confederation of Labour trade union centre Bulgaria), supported by EZA and funded by the European Union. 45 representatives of workers’ organisations from Belgium, Germany, Austria, Romania and Bulgaria participated in the event.
Aims of the seminar
- Improve the skills of participating trade union leaders and professionals;
- Analyse the major drivers of change (digitalisation, AI, decarbonisation, demography, geopolitical developments, nationalism and right-wing populism);
- Conduct a critical appraisal of the resulting challenges for workers and trade unions;
- Clearly identify priorities for a socially just transformation, including co-determination, further education, fair transitions and the protection of workers' rights;
- Develop strategies for trade unions to provide a socio-political impetus and to actively shape change;
- Consolidate a transnational exchange in the European context and develop shared perspectives for social progress.
In this context, the aim of the seminar was to examine the impact of the economic, technological and environmental changes on the world of work which bring fresh uncertainties and also opportunities for the workforce.
Description of the seminar
The work programme was divided into contributions from the different countries, expert lectures, discussion forums, a visit to a relevant location and a closing session.
The event kicked off in Sofia with a welcome and introductory session that communicated the key political messages.
The seminar then continued with country-specific contributions on the current challenges and the future of the trade union movement and social policy in general.
The individual country contributions were followed by presentations on the following topics:
Digitalisation and AI: the transformation of work and new power asymmetries;
Socio-economic inequality and poverty in paid employment: causes, trends and policy options.
The activities on Day 1 closed with individual contributions from trade union leaders and experts on the policies of workers' organisations in times of radical change.
Work began on Day 2 with a panel discussion in Veliko Tarnovo on “Security and the labour market – risks for workers”, in which regional trade union leaders and experts from the city and regional administration exchanged views.
The panel discussion was followed by an important political statement on geopolitical changes and their impact on social policy.
The focus then shifted to the near future and the role of work in an age of change. The views of the experts on the major trends of change in the world of work were presented at a meeting with teaching staff and students of the University of Veliko Tarnovo. Teaching staff, students and trade unionists discussed the most urgent issues, including:
- The challenges faced by young people and their integration into the labour market;
- The role of higher education in preparing the workforce for the future;
- The professional development and potential careers for young workers;
Day 3 started with a visit to Grabovo, where regional and local trade unionists and representatives from the regional administration showed us the huge challenges at this industrial location, where the cityscape has been visibly marked by the exodus of industry and people. The city had 67,012 inhabitants in 2007, but this number has now dwindled to approx. 40,000, and further decline is threatened if no alternative jobs are created outside of the textile industry (the city was referred to as the "Bulgarian Manchester").
The event continued with another expert presentation by the ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union Federation), which again highlighted the specific importance of the interplay between social policy and trade union work in social dialogue, and concluded with a summary of the main topics addressed during these intensive and dynamic days, along with the conclusions drawn from the presentations by the experts and the discussions.
Key ideas
Trade unions are facing numerous crises, ranging from economic downturns and geopolitical instability to the digital transformation and climate challenges. The digital transformation and climate change are having profound effects on labour markets, working conditions and the quality of jobs. It is no surprise that the restructuring and closures of industries are destroying the industrial base in the EU and well-paid, secure employment is lost. Trade unions estimate that the green transition alone will have a direct impact on 40% of workers in the EU. Moreover, great uncertainty exists regarding “phantom work” (unseen, unpaid, or unproductive labour), which will certainly also lead to a deterioration of working conditions. This will require numerous initiatives: to secure income, prevent job losses and to improve qualifications for the new job profiles. Workers’ organisations should therefore monitor the dual transformation closely and take decisive action to ensure that remote working and platform working, AI and climate protection policies benefit, and not harm, workers. The aim of guaranteeing secure employment status to all workers, fair remuneration and humane working conditions must become a core component of every trade union commitment and action.
Migrant workers are a specific group of workers who are frequently confronted with systemic loopholes and often excluded from collective bargaining and protective measures. Migration is also used by far-right and authoritarian groups as a way of causing division in our societies and weakening democratic institutions. This anti-migrant agenda represents an attack on democracy itself. Similar measures only damage workers and deepen inequality. In this context, trade unions must become more active in defending migrant workers and must combine direct advocacy/support with proposals for policy measures to close the gaps in the protection of migrant workers. In this respect, trade unions must ensure that migration policy upholds the principles of equal treatment for all workers.
Working poverty and regional inequalities remain a persistent challenge across Europe. A large and growing proportion of people work full-time, but do not earn enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. In practice, 1 in 7 workers lives in poverty despite being in employment and struggles to make ends meet. The consequences of working poverty are severe, and workers affected by this often endure sub-standard living conditions, material hardship, increased stress, anxiety and depression. This problem cannot be solved by wage increases alone. The unions are calling for stronger political engagement that focus on rights-based and humane employment approaches. High-quality jobs must be prioritised to take the uncertainty and restrictions that workers face into account.
Key conclusions and recommendations
Our age is characterised by increasing geopolitical tensions, escalating conflicts, a polarisation of interests and unpredictability. In times of change, trade unions should respond in a more proactive way and express the fears of workers across Europe. Trade unions should therefore continue to actively exert pressure and demand political measures that consistently focus on high-quality jobs, social investment and improved working conditions.
The working world of today is undergoing a systematic transformation with digitalisation, AI and climate change. In an era of increasing job insecurity, it is essential for trade unions to go beyond the scope of traditional workers' rights and anticipate the needs of the entire workforce in all its diversity. It is sure that, in this respect, an increased ability to adapt to the changing landscape of both the working world and society generally will be essential. This means going beyond the traditional role of collective protection and becoming drivers of change, which will enable all parties to turn challenges into opportunities. This can only be achieved by a proactive process of change management (understanding trends, adapting trade union structures and strategies to create a human-centred future of work) and by also advocating for equitable development.
The rapid spread of digital work platforms is changing the employment landscape, leaving workers more vulnerable and requiring innovative responses from trade unions. The nature of platform work is characterised by algorithmic management, surveillance practices and a deliberate fragmentation of workers. This combination of factors presents an unprecedented challenge to the enforcement of workers' rights. Trade unions must respond and use digital tools to implement new organisational strategies and combine legal and negotiation innovations to protect workers in the digital economy.
The power of trade unions is based exclusively on an active and strong membership. In this respect, the greatest challenge for workers’ organisations currently is to manage the changes in the world of work effectively and to ensure that the digital and ecological transformation produces some specific results: secure contracts, fair pay and dignity in the workplace. To achieve this, trade unions must extend their influence beyond traditional boundaries by including informal workers, platform workers and migrant workers through targeted organisation and mobilisation with more transparency and responsiveness. Trade unions must also consolidate internal unity and solidarity networks to boost their ability to mobilise workers.
Young people entering the labour market are not a homogeneous group. However, they are all subject to a period of accelerated technological change and evolving economic models. The youth of today are therefore facing unprecedented challenges – from war and crises to cyber bullying and a lack of job opportunities. Even when young workers do find employment, it is often in precarious jobs or temporary contracts often for low pay. The phenomenon of the “working poor” is thus relatively widespread among young people and is in clear contrast to the aim of “dignified work”. This even affects qualified and highly educated young workers.
Another problem is the frequent “skills imbalance” between the skills acquired through formal education and the competencies required by employers.Younger generations tend to think about individual approaches first, rather than collective ones. In addition, young workers do not join trade unions, even though they are unaware that they can defend their rights collectively in the workplace. At the same time, many young workers could potentially benefit from union representation, as working life has become increasingly unpredictable and employment is less secure. If trade unions want to appeal to young workers, they must gain a better understanding of the interests and values of the younger generation and implement youth-led initiatives. It is vital to expand the tasks of trade unions beyond concerns regarding pay and social benefits and to address transparency and digital technologies.
Trade unions must also evolve their activities by addressing issues such as AI, mental health, flexible working and paid leave, and not focus exclusively on pay and job security. This is because young workers today aspire to more than just improved pay; they are also calling for meaningful youth participation and a voice in shaping the future.