Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund

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

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.

Katarina Pejić

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

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.

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.