1. Claude Denagtergal – ETUC Advisor
WORKPLACE EUROPE
EURES WORKING PARTY
Székesfehérvár, 25 May 2011
Claude Denagtergal – ETUC Advisor

2. Aims and expectations General objectives:
To gather information about trade union activities to support migrant and mobile workers and their families, increasing their chances and opportunities for access to decent jobs and inclusion and integration in workplaces and host societies.
Search innovative ways of informing, supporting, protecting and organising migrant/mobile workers and their families.
The aims:
To help migrant/mobile workers (including temporary and posted workers) to overcome barriers and obstacles to participate fully and equally in labour markets across Europe
to inform trade unions across Europe about good practices and to take up similar actions and activities in other countries/sectors
to develop good practice models that can be disseminated and duplicated throughout Europe.

3. COLLECTION OF GOOD PRACTICES
An inventory of good practice examples and experiences with trade union actions in the migration area, connected with three general categories:
1. Providing migrant/mobile workers with information, advice and support:
a) in their home country (before leaving) and/or
b) in the host country
2. Organising and recruiting migrant/mobile workers:
a) affiliating them to the unions established in the host country and/or
b) recognizing their membership in unions established in the home country.
3. Integrating migrant/mobile workers into the trade union movement, workplace and working life of the host country.

4. Regional Seminars
6 regional workshops to discuss outcomes and regional experiences and needs, and come up with recommendations for further action/activity both at regional and ETUC level.
Bristol, Barcelona, Trieste, Luxemburg, Bratislava, Tallin.
1 day each. Around 20 participants
Presentation of the questionnaire outcomes in the region. Validation of the outcomes and provision of more information on trade union activities.
Debates: positive and negative aspects; future scenarios; recommendation and proposals for further action.
Outcomes from the seminars. Last seminar: Bratislava 22nd June.

5. Regional Seminars:countries
South-south: France, Spain and Portugal.
Centre-west: Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany.
Centre-east: Poland, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany.
North-east: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark
South-east: Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and Croatia
North-west: Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland and Latvia.

6. Searching for a common language
There is no agreement on basic definitions, specially:
Mobile worker: person with nationality of one of the 27 EU member states working in another EU member state. Based on mobility rights: free movement of persons within the EU.
Regular migrant worker: a person with third-country nationality (= non EU) legally residing and legally working in an EU member state.
Cross-border worker/commuter: person working in one EU member state but having his/her main residence in the territory of another EU member state to which he/she goes back regularly (at least once a week).
Posted worker: a person who, in the frame of the provision of services, i.e. as a worker of a foreign subcontractor, as a worker of an intermediary or as a worker of a service provider, and for a limited period of time, carries out his/her work in the territory of an EU member state other than the state in which he/she normally works.
Confusion with posted workers from third countries whose undertaking is in a third country.

7. Some general achievements of TU actions on migration and mobility
Increasing of affiliation: although difficult to assess: lack of data, lack of evaluation systems.
TU Cooperation generates: TU agreements at sectoral level and creation of cooperation structures (IRTUC)
New working methods to deal with new groups: youth, migrants. Challenge: being more flexible, less bureaucratic. Addressing precariousness
Better image of trade unions when developing actions in favour of migration
To counter the trend of social dumping and exploitation of foreign workers

8. Some achievements of TU actions on migration and mobility
TUs activities on information, advice and support of migrant workers in both countries of origin and destination are wide-spread, well structured and organised, help to prevent wage dumping and predatory competition. Two models: Mediterranean model (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece); IRTUCs
Organising and recruiting migrant workers: positive results through migrant organizers; secondment of foreign TU officers; organising campaigns targeting migrants

9. Some achievements of TU actions on migration and mobility
Actions on integration:
change of attitude towards migrants
show solidarity among workers and their TU organizations
develop a horizontal and integrative approach to migration to encourage social, cultural, economic and labour integration in equal conditions
diversity management through collective bargaining
help counter the increasing of xenophobia and creating solidarity and respect for workers rights

10. Common ground Information and support centers for migrant workers
Cross-border TU cooperation
Employment observatories on migration/mobility issues
Monitoring migration flows/addressing labour market shortages
Training on migration issues for TU officers
Statistics and data on migrant workers
Collective bargaining guidelines on migration and diversity
Creation of specific structures in the TU to integrate migrant workers or to deal with migrant issues
Social and labour insertion of migrants through professional training
Actions to counter extreme right political discourse against migration

11. Common ground Employing foreign language speaking organisers
Setting up specific organising campaigns which aim at sectors where migrants are predominant
Cooperation and support with NGOs and migrant organisations
Language courses
Transnational TU coordination and networking
Protection of fundamental human rights in a non-punitive approach
Capacity to involve regional governments in agreement for cross-border workers
Agreements of recognition of membership
Strategy of public pressure as a way of transposing the problems into the policy arena

12. Common ground Printed material and advice in different languages
Permanent presence in migrant events and media
Migrant organizers and counsellors in the unions
Free legal advice and representation
Cooperation with NGO
TU specific structures for migrants
Sensibilization of public opinion
Training in stereotypes and discrimination

13. Common ground
EURES is an important instrument. Unions as guarantors of fair mobility in border region. Transnational TU coordination and networking
Cooperation with TU in countries of origin
Information desks and in different languages
Organising undoc. migrants inside the union in a special committee

14. I. Good Practices: Information, advice and support
Actions to prepare and adapt the trade union to give adequate answers to migrant/mobile workers
Actions to provide information and support to migrant/mobile workers directly

15. Good Practices: Information, advice and support
IRTUCs: cross-border TU structures for cooperation: different aspects facilitate regional TU cooperation (mutual knowledge, frequent contacts, EURES framework): labour market observatories, recognition of qualifications, training, remove administrative burdens; promotion of transnational collective agreements; Eures advisers network. Focused on “cross-border workers”.
Meditarrean model: support centers for migrant workers: labour, legal info advice and support; legal assistance in tribunals; integral attention; TU cooperation with countries of origin (even non EU); info and advice to workers in country of origin; brochures in different languages; sensibilization activities; labour insertion itineraries; webpages; newspapers;

16. Baltic Sea Labour Network
Baltic Sea Labour Network: institutions providing assistance to migrant workers; produce info on their employment conditions; determining their needs and barriers to internal mobility; institutions responsible for coordination of professional training and labour market requirements.
Network of institutions dealing with migrant workers in Poland and Polish workers abroad
Study on working and living conditions of Polish migrants
Information for migrant workers in Poland
Research on recognition of migrant worker qualifications and diplomas

17. II. Good Practices: Integration
Training, information and education activities
Integration through collective bargaining
Social and labour insertion through professional and occupational training
Sensibilization activities on migration issues
Cultural and sport activities
General TU activity on migrant workers as a way of integration

18. Union policies related to the integration of mobile/migrant workers in the workplace/labour market
Incorporation of migration issues into collective bargaining and negotiate diversity plans at the workplace
Agreements with employers regarding integration and non-discrimination of migrants in the workplace/labour market
Agreements that incorporate issues referring to the situation and/or special needs of migrant workers
Participation in labour market observatories where migration issues are dealt with

19. Conference 27-28 September 2010 Brussels
Presentation of good practices and debates
Working groups to validate outcomes/draft report and make proposals and recommendations on:
Lines of strategies/actions
Ways of TU cooperation
Mutual recognition of membership

20. PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PROPOSALS FOR SPECIFIC ACTIONS
(at international, European and national levels)
ACTIONS RELATED TO INFORMATION, ADVICE AND SUPPORT
ACTIONS RELATED TO ORGANIZING AND RECRUITING MOBILE AND MIGRANT WORKERS

21. 2. POLICY RECOMMANDATIONS ON MIGRATION POLICY
THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM AND
XENOPHOBIA
AVOIDING SOCIAL DUMPING
LABOUR INSPECTIONS
INFLUENCING THE EUROPEAN MIGRATION
AGENDA
MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF MEMBERSHIP

22. FOLLOW UP - NEXT STEPS

23. ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FREE MOVEMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

24. ETUC STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2011-2014
ETUC XIIth CONGRESS (Athens, May 2011)
ETUC STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

25. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!