Ensuring Fair Treatment for Workers in the EU Labour Mobility Push

The European Commission is set to unveil a Fair Labour Mobility Package that seeks to make it easier for workers to move across EU borders and to strengthen the enforcement of existing labour rules. Proponents see this as a way to alleviate shortages, yet the proposal offers little on improving job quality or safeguarding short-term and posted workers who depend heavily on employers for rights protection. Approximately 10 million EU citizens reside in a member state other than their own, encountering many of the same barriers as international migrants, including discounted qualifications and weak social networks.

Evidence from trade unions shows that workers in construction, agriculture, food manufacturing and transport are especially at risk, with limited oversight and enforcement. The author contends that a fair internal labour market must compensate workers for their skills rather than their nationality, and that mobility should complement—not replace—efforts to create attractive, secure employment. Without such safeguards, the package could simply serve as a band-aid for shortages while leaving vulnerable workers exposed.