ELA has launched today it’s new information and awareness raising campaign during a press conference in Helsinki, Finland. The first ELA-supported joint inspection between Finland and Estonia is also taking place at the same time.
The aim of the campaign is to provide information to workers and employers about their rights and obligations in particular related to posting of workers, but also in other areas relevant to labour mobility. ELA is in 2023 supporting the Member States in particular with construction sector related activities in line with its Roadmap for the construction sector, a multiannual programme (2023-2024).
The aim of the Roadmap is to develop a comprehensive approach to contribute to the improvement of cross-border workers’ and companies’ conditions in the construction sector. The information and awareness raising campaign is part of the Roadmap and via the campaign, ELA will inform workers and employers in the construction sector about their rights and obligations when it comes to labour mobility and in particular posting of workers.
The Executive director opened the campaign after a meeting with the Finnish Minister of Employment, Arto Satonen and the Director of the Southern Finland labour inspectorate Mr Eerik Tarnaala. “The awareness of rights and obligations is the first precondition for protection of workers and compliance with the rules in place. If you know your rights, you also know when they are not respected. And then you can protect your rights.” Said Cosmin Boiangiu at the press conference. “The ELA construction campaign is a good example of European cooperation between authorities, which aims at spreading awareness and common practices” said Minister Arto Satonen. “I would like thank on behalf of both the Regional Labour Inspectorate for Southern Finland and the Labour Inspectorate of Estonia that through ELA´s funding the cooperation is possible during this action week.” Said Mr Eerik Tarnaala.
The awareness of rights and obligations is the first precondition for protection of workers and compliance with the rules in place. If you know your rights, you also know when they are not respected. And then you can protect your rights.
The ELA construction campaign is a good example of European cooperation between authorities, which aims at spreading awareness and common practices
I would like thank on behalf of both the Regional Labour Inspectorate for Southern Finland and the Labour Inspectorate of Estonia that through ELA´s funding the cooperation is possible during this action week.
The Occupational and Health Division of Southern Finland, together with the tax authority and the Finnish Pension Institute are inspecting construction sites that have workers posted from Estonia today. This inspection is mainly focusing on checking if the rules on posting of workers are respected on the construction sites. The targeted joint inspections have been agreed to with the Estonian labour inspectorate. Their representatives are taking part in the joint inspections as observers.
This experience will reinforce the cooperation and facilitate exchange of practices among labour enforcement authorities of the participating countries. It is the first time such an inspection has been carried out with ELA’s support in Finland.
ELA coordinates and supports concerted and joint inspections in the areas within its competence and offers conceptual, logistical and technical support, legal expertise, translation and interpretation services to concerted and joint inspections.
The construction industry, with around 13 million employees spread across 3 million companies, stands as the largest industrial employer within the European Union. It contributes around 5.5% to the gross value added of the EU (GVA). Notably, it also holds the record for the highest number of posted workers.
Germany is the main receiving country of posted workers in the Construction Sector, while Poland the main sending country.
This sector also often uses subcontracting, temporary work agencies and often engages in the posting of third country nationals. The construction sector faces many challenges related to the application of the existing rules, enforcement of these rules, and cooperation between the Member States.
Pia Fallström Mujkic
European Labour Authority
Communications Team Leader & Spokesperson
press@ela.europa.eu