Support network

Find out more about the Fair Mobility Support Network here.

Introduction

 

The Fair Mobility advisory network has been stabilised. This has been accompanied by a significant increase in political demands. Trade unionists have come together in an independent "Fair Mobility Support Network" in order to better facilitate their handling. These are experienced trade unionists who have networks and a wide range of contacts, have been involved in Fair Mobility for a long time and are very familiar with the situation on the labour market in Germany and Europe. They work in close coordination with the management of the counselling network and the DGB Federal Executive Board.

The support network includes

  • Annelie Buntenbach

  • Jan Cremers

  • Frank Schmidt-Hullmann

  • Micha Heilmann

  • Marika Varga

  • Sarah Benke-Åberg

  • Anne Karrass

Contact: netzwerk@faire-mobilitaet.de

Fair without borders

One focus of the support network is the commitment to permanent EU funding for trade union-related support and advice structures for cross-border mobile workers and labour migrants. In addition to information on labour and social law in the country of work, they need access to individual advice and support in asserting their rights.

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

The promotion of a fair European labour market is a public task. Trade union-related counselling services to support mobile workers and migrant workers must therefore be permanently financed at European level through a separate budget line

This initiative is supported by the European trade union family.

Flyer: Fair without borders

Protection against labour exploitation needs trade union-based advisory structures - Europe-wide!

Concretisation

Considerations on the establishment of a Europe-wide counselling and support network for cross-border mobile workers and labour migrants from third countries

In order to come closer to the goal of rights-based internal migration - as set out in the acquis for a social Europe - the EU Commission should provide sufficient funds to set up and maintain an appropriate number of trade union-related advice centres for cross-border mobile workers and labour migrants in the EU countries. This advisory infrastructure should provide advice on labour and social law issues and support the target groups in enforcing their labour rights - if necessary - across national borders. The advice centres in the countries should work closely with the trade unions and the European Trade Union Federations and form a transnational advice structure across the board. Close cooperation with the European Labour Authority (ELA) should be established and maintained. You can find further concrete ideas on the establishment of a Europe-wide network of trade union advice centres here in German and English.

 

Study

on the role of trade unions in supporting mobile migrant workers

In February 2023, Jan Cremers (Tilburg Law School) was commissioned by the Hans Böckler Foundation to publish the study Supporting mobile labour migrants - the role of the trade union movement. In it, he describes and discusses the tasks that are attributed to and accepted by trade unions in the context of the implementation of the free movement of workers and cross-border labour migration in the EU and 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 such counselling structures throughout Europe!
We have had good experiences with fair mobility in Germany in the fight against labour exploitation.
Anja Piel, Mitglied des Geschäftsführenden Bundesvorstandes des DGB