Cross-border workers Resolution: freedom of movement, protection and quality working conditions

The closing of internal EU borders was an unprecedented move, which resulted in millions of cross-border workers to suddenly find themselves left without help. Freedom is one of our most important priorities and, therefore, Pirates in the European Parliament, supported and contributed to the Motion for Resolution on European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Free movement of workers is essential for the functioning of the European internal market. That is why, Member States which have not yet done so should lift as soon as possible all travel restrictions and discriminatory confinement and quarantine measures for cross-border workers.

Moreover, the whole parliament recognized that cross-border workers are in a particularly vulnerable situation as regards their working conditions and occupational health and safety in the context of the current crisis. We thus asked Member States to provide them with access to healthcare, adequate protection, easy access to testing and free repatriation. The Commission is also called upon to undertake an urgent study of the general situation of employment health and safety conditions of cross-border workers with a view to identifying protection gaps and revise the existing legislation.

To ensure equal treatment, Member States should grant cross-border workers access to social security, labour rights, tax regimes, short-time work schemes, reimbursement of posting expenditure, and certainty about the competent authority for their coverage. While this was unfortunately not covered by the Resolution, Pirate also believe that the real long term solution is the further equilibration of salaries to prevent all sorts of exploitation and social dumping.

Cooperation between social security institutions is essential to bridge gaps in national practices and improve the protection of cross-border workers. This is why the Parliament urges the Council to find an agreement on the revision of the social security coordination Regulation, calls on the Member States to implement the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information system and asks the Commission to prepare an impact assessment on the introduction of a digital European Social Security Number.

While Pirates supported these digital solutions, we introduced an amendment underlining that any personal data must be used only for the specific purpose and only by competent authorities for social security, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation. We also believe that measures against pandemics should not be nation wide, but focused on  regions. Better targeting of quarantine measures could save both funds and personal freedom.

Finally, transparency and protection of whistle-blowers are an important part of this resolution. We stressed the need for the Commission to provide transparent information to cross-border workers in all European languages and to make available options to signal abuses and receive support in labour contracts without fear of reprisal.