Debate: Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills
Date: MONDAY, 17 MAY 2021
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

Today’s discussions are under the best auspices. During the social summit in Porto, a new commitment was made to reinforce the social dimension of the EU. The leaders of the EU institutions, Heads of State and Government, and the European social partners and civil society organisations recognise that the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan is our way forward and endorse the new EU—level 2030 targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction.  Labour mobility is a crucial element in the action plan and is at the heart of a well-functioning single market. I agree that mobility, the freedom of services, is a fundamental freedom of the European Union; but it has to be accompanied by fair working conditions. It has to be fair, and it has to be just for everyone.  We have also seen that the freedom of mobility is not an  The Commission has been working to ensure that the measures to mitigate the health emergency are non-discriminatory and proportionate. In March 2020, we issued guidance to safeguard the free movement of critical workers. In July, we presented guidelines on seasonal workers in order to stress the rights of seasonal workers, including information and social security, and to ensure decent working and living conditions by addressing occupational safety and health, accommodation and transport.  The posting of workers is another important element of free movement, as you have also highlighted in your reports. The revised Posted Workers Directive ensures a level playing field between local companies and those providing their services across borders. That is why the Posted Workers Directive is so essential in the context of the internal market. It guarantees a core set of equal rights for posted workers and local workers, for instance as regards minimum rates of pay, conditions of accommodation, and hiring through temporary work agencies. We are monitoring closely how this directive has been transposed into national legislation.  The modernisation of the social security coordination rules will also contribute to facilitating free movement and protecting the rights of mobile citizens. In this context, I also hope that, with your support, the co—legislators will find an agreement on the revised rules proposed by the previous Commission.  Looking ahead, in 2022 we will examine the working conditions of posted workers in subcontracting chains and others working across borders, including third—country nationals. This is a request the Parliament has put forward in resolutions and that I am keen to follow up. We need to protect and enhance mobile workers’ rights, while ensuring fair mobility based on a level playing field and the responsiveness of labour markets. A key novelty is the establishment of the European Labour Authority (ELA). Still in its build-up phase, results are already tangible with better access to information and inspections. ELA is launching an action plan on seasonal workers within an awareness—raising campaign informing seasonal workers about their rights. Labour mobility is one way of matching labour market needs and skills. The EURES network, an online platform connecting public employment services, employers and job seekers, is at the centre of the European labour market.  At the same time, we also have to make sure people can develop the skills that are needed in their regions. This is a precondition for a fair and resilient recovery and successful green and digital transitions. The European Skills Agenda sets out concrete actions to empower individuals to learn, including the upcoming initiatives on individual learning accounts. With the Pact for Skills, we are engaging public and private organisations to join forces to upskill and reskill people in Europe, and this paves the way to reaching the target of at least 60% of adults participating in training every year by 2030.  I welcome your resolution and this debate. We are striving to achieve the same goal: ensuring that the rights of mobile workers are protected and EU rules are enforced, and that a fair mobility is safe.