Quality Jobs Begin with Quality Leadership: Highlights from the hearing with Roxana Mînzatu

On 16 April 2025, the European Commission’s discussion of the Quality Jobs Roadmap brought together over 40 social partners for a high-level hearing led by Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu.

The event was another step toward reshaping Europe’s employment landscape, and Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, wanted to move forward by listening to social partners’ concerns and opinions, making sure to make visible the open a dialogue on what “quality jobs” should mean in today’s rapidly evolving world of work.

The conversation turned around legislative frameworks, labour protections, and sector-specific needs. CEC European Managers brought a particularly distinctive perspective of leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Olga Molina, CEC‘s Director, underscored the essential role that managers play in both creating and sustaining quality jobs.

Molina framed management not merely as a technical function, but as a human and strategic force—central to driving innovation, cohesion, and resilience within organisations.

“Leadership is not an optional enhancement to job quality but its foundation”

Olga Molina

CEC European Managers Director

Psychological safety, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership are the conditions under which quality work thrives.

Teams perform better when led by managers who foster trust and embrace diverse perspectives—particularly in times of transition.

In its response to the European Commission, CEC has called for attention to a systemic issue often overlooked in policy discussions: the chronic underinvestment in managerial training.

Technically competent professionals are often promoted into leadership roles without the skills or support to manage people effectively.

This lack of preparation not only undermines the performance of those individuals but also affects the well-being and development of entire teams.

Addressing the European Commission directly, CEC European Managers urged support for lifelong learning pathways tailored specifically to leadership roles.

The current model of managerial development, often limited to outdated frameworks, fails to prepare managers for the demands of AI integration, green restructuring, and digitalisation in the workplace.

Leaders and managers must be equipped with the tools to anticipate change, communicate a clear vision, and guide their teams through complex and uncertain terrain.

Developing capable, future-oriented leaders would not only improve productivity but also reinforce the social fabric of European companies. Good management is a matter of cohesion and social justice.

Recognising and rewarding merit, ensuring career fluidity, and integrating inclusive practices into everyday management are key priorities for CEC European Managers.

The Quality Jobs roadmap will not attempt to impose a fixed definition of what constitutes a quality job. Instead, it will function as a guide, rooted in shared principles and shaped by sector-specific realities.

Roxana Mînzatu

EU Commission VP

For CEC European Managers, the message is clear: quality jobs must be built on a foundation of quality leadership.

Download the infographic from the EU Commission about the Quality Jobs Roadmap [+]