Brussels, 15 May 2023 To the Members of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

The Guide for Mobile Workers in Europe is issued by the European Trade-Union Confederation (ETUC). The ETUC coordinates 46 Interregional Trade-Union Councils (IRTUC). The IRTUCs are associations of the regional trade union organisations in the many border areas to support local, often cross-border mobile workers in defending and pursuing their social and economic interests.

ETUC Position on the European Commission ‘Skills and Talent Package’ Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 27-28 October 2022 Background

The ETUC secretariat is coordinating the participation of the trade union organisations in the EURES network. It is mostly through the Interregional Trade Union Councils (IRTUCs), at regional/interregional levels, who are participating in the EURES Cross Border Partnerships.

The Inter-Regional Trade Union Councils (IRTUCs) bring together the regional trade union organisations of national ETUC-affiliated confederations in cross-border regions. There are 46 IRTUCs, ranging from the northern tip of Sweden to southern Spain, from Ireland in the west to Hungary in the east. The relevant national federations and the ETUC Secretariat work together to set up an IRTUC, which can form its own working groups to examine specific local issues. The ETUC also convenes the IRTUCs Coordinating Committee, which meets twice a year. 

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 22 March 2021 I. Setting the scene: why both labour mobility and migration should be fair

The ETUC launches a series of ‘COVID-19 Watch’ briefing notes. They focus on developments providing critical information on the impacts of COVID-19 on labour markets, workers and citizens across Europe. These Briefing Notes are produced by the ETUC with the support of the ETUI and ETUC affiliated organisations. While every effort has been made to make them accurate at the date of publication, new agreements and measures are being announced daily. The current briefings will be updated periodically, and new ones produced on other topics.

The ETUC has been calling for improvements of the rules on the coordination of social security systems for years. We need improvements to the current rules to better fight against abuses and fraud and to strengthen mobile workers’, posted workers’ and frontier workers’ rights, as well as to improve and operationalise the cooperation between Member States. Now it is possible to deliver much needed improvements to the legal framework by completing in a positive manner the negotiations on the revision of the Regulations on the coordination of social security systems.

The ETUC’s German affiliate the DGB has got together with Hungarian trade unions to approve a declaration to ensure quality work and fair mobility. The principal aim of the statement is to raise the minimum wage so as to prevent poverty in the EU.  No full-time salary should be below the national poverty line. Working people should not be expected merely to survive on their wages, they should be able to live in dignity. The signing ceremony was hosted by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Budapest, and attended by DGB board member Stefan Körzell.

EU Employment Ministers today agreed a ‘general approach’ on the Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority (ELA). This now means the final regulation to set up the Authority will be negotiated in trialogue discussions between national government officials, MEPs and the European Commission.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is aware of pressure from the European Commission on Switzerland to use the current negotiations on a new framework agreement with the EU as an attempt to dismantle “accompanying measures”, introduced to protect posted workers and Swiss workers from social dumping and undercutting of wages.

A new bilateral agreement between Denmark and Romania on the provision of services and the posting of workers constitutes an important win for Danish trade unions – the culmination of efforts to improve collaboration with Romanian officials to combat social dumping.

ETUC Position: For A Strong European Labour Authority Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 12 April 2018     Key messages:

ETUC Position on a European Labour Authority - ensuring fairness for workers in the single market Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 13-14 December 2017 Key messages:

The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) has launched a website offering details of construction workers’ wages and rights across Europe. The site, available in all 28 EU languages, also provides trade union contacts in different countries who can help with assistance and information, indicating what languages they speak. Other useful contacts include websites of national labour inspectorates and social security systems. In the future, it will also feature an app that can be downloaded onto mobile phones.

A growing number of Polish drivers are working in Belgium, sometimes on Belgian work contracts, and joining local trade unions. The Belgian Union of Transport (UBT) has set up a special info-point to support them.   The service offers information on a wide range of issues including social security, tax, unemployment benefits, and bankruptcy – and helps to counter social dumping by checking drivers are getting the same pay as Belgian colleagues.  

The Labour Mobility Package for the coordination of social security for workers who take up free movement within the EU, is a complex and highly technical legal package which offers some improvements, but does not deal with all the disadvantages faced by mobile workers says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Proposals that mark an improvement include

The ETUC supports the right to remain for EU citizens living and working in the UK, and UK citizens living and working in the rest of the EU Statement adopted by the Executive Committee on 26-27 October 2016

Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation today met Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. Key political issues discussed included Brexit, Turkey and the future of Europe. After the constructive meeting Luca Visentini said:

Further to specific developments in the case of Vos Transport in the period between the end of SOMO's research and the publication of the report, SOMO has published the following annex providing an update including a recent case ruling, reference to the Dutch Labour Inspection report and Vos reply  

Commenting on the UK deal, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said  "Cameron had succeeded in exempting the UK from important duties of EU membership." "The EU must ensure that none of the exceptions and restrictions apply to other member states.  

The freedom of movement of workers and equal pay for equal work are fundamental rights and European principles which cannot be negotiated away said the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Responding to Prime Minister Cameron's long-awaited EU reform demands, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC warned "European trade unions  will call on their Governments and the European institutions to refuse to open negotiations on any change that would undermine freedom of movement of workers, and equal pay for equal work."

Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday must show that EU Governments are capable of acting together, decisively and with compassion towards refugees. “EU Governments have got to respond positively to President Juncker’s proposals to tackle the humanitarian emergency on our borders” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “The inability of European Governments to act together so far on the refugee crisis is an international embarrassment for the EU and its citizens.”

Commenting on Jean-Claude Juncker’s ‘State of the Union’ speech, ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said     “President Juncker clearly grasps how Europe needs to react to the refugee crisis. His leadership and proposals are welcome although they are light on detail with a lot to be worked on. What matters now is that member states act decisively, together and with compassion.”