EU Commissioner Laszlo Andor talks about the free movement of workers
EU Commissioner Laszlo Andor talks about the free movement of workers | AFP PHOTO / GEORGES GOBET
Measures to ensure worker’s rights to free movement
The European Commission has today proposed new measures with a view to ensure the better application of EU law on people's right to work in another Member State. Public and private employers tend to ignore the EU legislation often discriminating against potential employees based on nationality.
As László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion stated: "The free movement of workers is a key principle of the EU's Single Market. With much higher levels of unemployment in some Member States than others at the moment, it is all the more important to make it easier for those that want to work in another EU country to be able to do so. Labour mobility is a win—win – it benefits both Member States' economies and the individual workers concerned. This proposal will help workers to overcome obstacles to working in another EU country."
Currently 3% of the EU labour force, or 9.5 million people, live and work in another Member State. An additional 1.2 million people live in one EU country but work in another. However, the majority among them are not aware of where to turn to in the host Member State when their rights to free movement are violated.
Consequently, the proposal would involve the creation of national contact points providing information, assistance and advice to EU migrant workers and employers, provide appropriate means of redress at national level, allow labour unions, NGOs and other organizations to launch administrative or judicial procedures on behalf of individual workers in cases of discrimination and moreover, it would give better information for EU migrant workers and employers in general.
Finally, the Commission clarifies that ensuring the free movement of workers within the EU will not result in "brain drain" in certain countries. This is because migrant workers remaining employed abroad can contribute to the economy of their home state via remittances. Also, in case of an economic upturn, workers tend to go back to their home country to make use of their new skills. europe on line
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