ALEXANDER LOUVET / POWERSHOOTS

European Support Network for Fair Mobilty

Find out more about our Support Network here.

Table of contents

A key focus of the support network is advocating for permanent EU funding for trade union–affiliated support and advisory structures for cross-border mobile workers and labour migrants. In addition to information on labour and social law in the country of employment, they need access to individual advice and support in enforcing their rights.

To this end, the support network calls for comprehensive advisory services across the entire EU that are closely linked to trade union structures, transnationally networked, and designed for the long term (no temporary projects!).

Promoting a fair European labour market is a public responsibility. Trade union–related advisory services that support mobile workers and labour migrants must therefore receive permanent European funding through a dedicated budget line.

This initiative is supported by the European trade union family. The DGB also supports the establishment of an EU advisory network for mobile workers and labour migrants.

Contact: netzwerk@faire-mobilitaet.de

Who’s behind this?

The advisory network Fair Mobility has been made permanent. This has gone hand in hand with a significant increase in political demands. To better address these, trade unionists have come together in an independent “European Support Network for Fair Mobility.”

These are experienced trade unionists with established networks and a wide range of contacts, who have long been involved with Faire Mobilität and are very familiar with labour market conditions in Germany and across Europe. They work in close coordination with the leadership of the advisory network and the Federal Executive Board of the DGB.

 

Members
  • Annelie Buntenbach
  • Jan Cremers
  • Frank Schmidt-Hullmann
  • Micha Heilmann
  • Marika Varga
  • Sarah Benke-Åberg
  • Anne Karrass

Study

Regarding the role of trade unions in supporting mobile labour migrants

Jan Cremers of Tilburg Law School published the study “Supporting Mobile Labour Migrants – The Role of the Trade Union Movement” in February 2023 on behalf of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung.

In it, he describes and discusses the roles attributed to — or taken on by — trade unions in the context of implementing the free movement of workers and cross-border labour migration in the EU, as well as the challenges that arise from this. The study contributes to the debate on how and in what form trade union activities can better protect the interests of mobile labour migrants.

 

Summary of the study

Trade union demands that can be derived from the study

We need advisory structures like these throughout Europe!
We have had positive experiences with Faire Mobilty in Germany in the fight against labour exploitation.
Anja Piel, Member of the Executive Board of the DGB