Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund

Katarina Pejić

Through the “Fair Posting” project, we are building a transnational counselling network for posted workers in Europe.

The network is composed of union and union-related advisory centres in three countries of origin (Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia) and Germany, as the country of destination.

We have established Competence Centres in the countries of origin, at which workers are briefed on their rights in the German labour market before departing for Germany. Following their return, the Competence Centres and the Fair Mobility Advisory Centres in Germany assist workers in asserting possible claims against business enterprises.

The Competence Centres form networks composed of representatives of the political and scientific communities, government agencies, social insurance providers and civil society, all of which are dedicated to improving working conditions for posted workers.

The project includes a training programme. Counsellors from the partner countries visit each other and spend up to four days observing the day-to-day work of their colleagues.

The Competence Centres are affiliated with the trade union confederations in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia. They work closely with the DGB’s Fair Mobility counselling network. Counsellors from the Competence Centres meet regularly at workshops for further training. Employees of Fair Mobility as well as other experts provide insights into the legal situation in the German labour market. Informative materials in multiple languages have been prepared in support of counselling work.

Responsibility for project management is assigned to the DGB-Bildungswerk Bund, which coordinates the entire network in cooperation with the Fair Mobility project director.