Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund
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Events and workshops
Dominique John
Opening of the BNS Info Centre for Romanian posted workers
28 May 2019 | Bucharest
On May 28, 2019 the Romanian trade union confederation BNS (National Trade Union Bloc) signed a Partnership Framework Agreement with the Ministry of Labour and Social Justice, and a Cooperation Agreement with the Labour Inspection. On this occasion, BNS announced the inauguration of the BNS Centre for information, counselling, guidance and support services for Romanians posted workers in Germany.
The Romanian Minister of Labour, Mr. Marius Constantin Budăi was present at this event to highlight that the Ministry of Labour, together with its institutions, fully supports the BNS initiative. This Agreement is part of the BNS’ efforts to address labour market challenges in the context of workers' mobility, digitization and the need to respect workers' rights in the field of labour relations. BNS will sign similar agreements with other public institutions.
During the conference the BNS representatives stated that the aim of BNS is to improve the access to information for Romanians who are working in Germany or intend to go there as posted workers, while strengthening the transnational cooperation between European unions and other relevant stakeholders with regard to the specific needs of posted workers. BNS aims to strengthen a partnership relationship with the national institutions that have clear roles and responsibilities in solving the labour problems of Romanian citizens working in Germany. This pilot project prepares a similar approach for other countries with important Romanian communities.
A live video transmission allowed two colleagues from Germany to greet the participants at the conference. Dominique John from DGB-project Faire Mobilität, and Letitia Matarea-Türk, from the Fair Mobility Centre in Frankfurt spoke about the significance of the cooperation between Romania and Germany and their work so far in providing important information for workers posted to Germany. They underlined the fact that abuses will be prevented if the minimum working conditions required by law will be known by the Romanian nationals before going to Germany, and the matters that workers should consider before and after their stays in Germany in order to protect themselves against exploitation.
Among the participants at the conference for the inauguration of the BNS Centre were representatives from the German Embassy, the Labour Inspection, the National Employment Agency, the President of the National Public Pension Agency, Eures, trade union representatives of federations in various sectors, such as Construction and Agriculture.
Opening of the Info Centre for posted workers in Warsaw
15 April 2019 | Warsaw
The Info Centre was opened by the Vice-President of OPZZ Mr Piotr Ostrowski and Mr Adam Rogalewski – Acting Head of International Department of OPZZ. They presented to the media the situation of the carers of elderly people living in a nursing home, which in many cases resembles modern slavery. Particularly exposed to poor working conditions are carers delegated to work in Germany, who as part of a complicated employment model (in most cases employed by Polish agencies under a contract of mandate and then transferred to a German agency that sends them to work for families in Germany) are struggling not only because of low wages, but also due to the lack of contact and support from employers. This creates a very precarious situation for the employee, in which, in many cases, Polish citizens, in complete isolation and without the support of their employers, are available to provide care to German families 24 hours a day.
Reports on the opening are available on OPZZ website and in various Polish media (Puls Biznesu, Polski Obserwator, Everethnews).
Opening of the Info Centre for posted workers in Budapest
29 March 2019 | Budapest
Several trade unions and employers' organization were welcomed at the opening ceremony on March 29th, at VASAS headquarters, such as Meat Industry Workers' Union or Construction Workers' Union. After the presentation of the project, the participants expressed their interest and appreciation for the opportunity and then agreed on the details of further contact.
Trade union projects on posting: a European exchange
22 March 2019 | Berlin
Limited project timelines and changing funding priorities – these conditions often make it difficult to perpetuate the project results. With the aim of better networking, trade unionists from Germany, France, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Italy gathered together in Berlin. The upshot was that the representatives of the three projects present (Fair Working Conditions, TIDE POWER and the Reder Network) intend to pursue more joint initiatives in the future. The event was organised by the DGB Bildungswerk BUND e.V., together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Marina Mesure from the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers, and the DGB project "Fair Mobility".
Online report from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in German.
Start of the new project: first transnational workshop
19 - 21 March 2019 | Berlin
For the first time ever, the new project group met up in Berlin to hold a transnational workshop. Key points of the programme included an exchange on the specific features of posting as reported by the respective partner countries and a chance to get to know each other. For some project partners, the opening of an information centres was imminent. Experienced colleagues shared their best practices in a discussion relating to strategy.
Project "Fair Posting"
Expert Consultation on posted workers
17th of December 2018 | Ljubljana
As part of the Fair Posting project, a consultation on posted workers took place in the European Union House in Ljubljana. Representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities; the Labour Inspectorate; the Federal Institute for Health Insurance; the Employment Service, the Trade and Business Confederation and interested union representatives took place in the consultation. The focus of the discussion was on implementing the Act on the Cross-border Provision of Services, which came into force on 1 January 2018. This new law has put some sort of order into the posting process, but there are still problems on account of the rights of posted workers being violated.
Concluding Meeting of Experts in Bulgaria
30th of November | Sofia
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB) held the second concluding meeting of experts within the framework of the "Fair Posting" project. The two project employees Neli Botevska and Velichka Mikova informed the participants about the project and the way the Posting of Workers Directive has been applied in national law.
Representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MTSP), the executive agency "Principal Labour Inspectorate" (IA GIT), the National Treasury Department (NAP), the National Social Security Institute (NOI), the trade unions affiliated to the KNSB from the fields of construction, health, brewing, transport, the service industry, forestry as well as the Bulgarian Chamber of the Construction Trade as an employers' association and trade union experts took part in the discussion regarding the problems of Bulgarian workers posted to Germany.
Evaluation Meeting
14.11.-15.11.2018 | Dortmund
At the end of the project, we met up with all the project partners in Dortmund. After nearly two years of working together, we reviewed the results and compared them with the project objectives. We wondered what key actors we could gain for our cause and reflected on the areas where we fell short of our expectations. The final verdict was positive.
Expert Meeting: On the situation of workers from the Western Balkans
Katarina Pejić
18th of September 2018 | Stuttgart
To support posted and mobile workers from the Western Balkans, the projects Fair Posting and Fair Mobility invited to a meeting in the Trade Union House Stuttgart. Counsellors from the organizing projects, representatives of the Social Fund of the Construction Sector, consular representatives of Croatia and Bosnia and Hercegovina, Josip Juratović a MP of the Social Democrats. Other than that local actors of city migration offices.
The conclusion of the discussion: There is a great need for preventive counselling. Posted workers should be informed on their rights before leaving there country - espescially citizens from Bosnia and Hercegovina, who are posted through Slovenia.
Second networking conference on posted work in Croatia
19th of June 2018 | Zagreb
During the first part of the conference, counsellors from Germany, Croatia and Slovenia offered descriptions of their experiences for discussion. Focal points included typical cases, problem-solving strategies and administrative hurdles. During the second part, representatives of the Labour Ministry, the Health Insurance Institute and the Labour Authority presented their views on the situation of workers posted from Croatia. The participants discussed suggestions for ways to improve the working conditions of mobile workers.
Fourth transnational Workshop
13th - 15th of June | Ljubljana
The agenda for the last project workshop included two visits. At the Slovenian Health Insurance Institute, which issues A1 certificates in Slovenia, employees demonstrated the procedures they use in verifying the status of firms that apply for A1 certificates for posting purposes. The second visit took participants to the Slovenian Labour Inspection Agency, where they were familiarised with the Agency’s inspection and sanctioning powers. Following their return to the union building, Nataša Briški gave a presentation on the basic principles of press work with traditional and social media.
Conference: Protecting workers’ rights across national borders. Challenges facing supervisory authorities, Customs and the planned European Labour Authority
18th of April 2018 | Berlin
Advisory Centres for foreign workers and representatives of trade unions have regularly reported cases of systematic wage fraud, failure to comply with labour laws and circumvention of work-safety regulations. Attempts to monitor compliance with workers’ rights fail for a number of reasons. Where are the weak points in current supervisory structures? How can they be developed into instances capable of providing more effective protection for workers’ interests? How should a European Labour Authority be equipped to ensure compliance with labour laws and work-safety regulations across national borders? Experts and politicians exchanged views on these questions at the conference. The event was conducted in cooperation with the Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung.
Szabolcs Sepsi
Networking conference in Slovenia
27th of February 2018 | Ljubljana
Participants in the networking conference included representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity, the Labour Inspection Agency, the National Health Insurance Agency and the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia as well as the Employers’ Association, the Chamber of Business and Commerce, the Trade and Entrepreneurs’ Association and trade union representatives from Slovenia. All participants presented their views of posting, after which they discussed the law regarding cross-border services which took effect in Slovenia on 1 January 2018. At that time it was emphasised that implementation of the law is to be monitored and supervised.
Third transnational workshop
22th - 25th of February 2018 | Düsseldorf
Participants in the third workshop addressed specific regulations relating to posting in the transport industry. Colleagues from the Dutch VNB foundation were invited to take part in the discussion. They are currently working on a project devoted to counselling for posted lorry drivers. The group also visited a motorway service area and spoke with drivers about their situation.
Networking meeting: Stakeholders of posted work
2nd of December | Zagreb
The goal of this networking conference was to bring representatives of trade unions and government institutions together for the purpose of exchanging information, experience and perspectives. In addition to the presentation of cases from the files of the SSSH Competence Centre, also such issues as calculation of the minimum wage, taxation of posted workers and the impending revision of the Posting of Worker Directive were discussed.
Networking conference in Bulgaria
23rd of November 2017 | Sofia
Experts from trade unions and government agencies in Bulgaria met for the purpose of discussing the issue of posting. The directors of the Competence Centre introduced the Fair Posting Project and provided an introductory overview of European legislation and its national implementation in Bulgaria. The following discussion focused on specific aspects of posting in Bulgaria.ndung in Bulgarien an.
Second transnational workshop
27-29 Sept 2017 | Zagreb
The second workshop in Zagreb focused on the topics of counselling competence and cooperation. A guest speaker discussed counselling principles and the role of counsellors. Counsellors developed guidelines for effective transnational cooperation.
Expert discussion: posted workers in Germany. Rights – challenges – options for action
12th of September 2017 | Hannover
Representatives of relevant organisations gathered for an in-depth discussion on the subject of posting. The revision of the Posting of Workers Directive, evasive strategies of employers and possible approaches to controlling them were focal points of discussion.
Transnational Professional Exchange on Posted Workers: Developing Common Strategies in Counselling and Awareness-Raising
22nd - 24th of May 2017 | Berlin
The first workshop was conducted with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Focal points of attention were introductory presentations on German labour law and the basic principles of posting. Participants also discussed the kinds of informative materials to be prepared within the context of the project. One entire day was devoted to consultation with experienced colleagues from Fair Mobility.
Kick-Off-Meeting
20th - 21st of Feb 2017 | Berlin
At the first meeting for the Fair Posting Project, colleagues got to know each other and were given an overview of the project and planned activities. In addition, representatives of partner organisations presented analyses of the situation of posted workers in the respective countries.
