Over 14 million EU citizens work and live in a Member State other than their own, new figures show.
But many face possible inequalities when it comes to employment rights and working conditions.
That is one reason why the EU set up the European Labour Authority which, the bloc says, plays a “pivotal role in fair labour mobility.”
The ELA’s last five years of activity has now been the subject of a first evaluation by the European commission.
The EC report on this says that
“ELA’s support to fair mobility and social security coordination remains crucial. “
The report states that between 2019 and 2023, ELA assisted Member States in 168 cross-border labour inspections, checking the situation of more than 13,500 workers in high-risk sectors like transport, construction and agriculture.
The evaluation also identifies areas for improvement, including reinforcing the competences on concerted and joined inspections, or tackling situations regarding third country nationals within the EU, capacity in processing personal data, or simplifying and facilitating access to mediation procedure.
Comment on the report comes from EC Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu.
The official said:
“Mobile workers deserve equal treatment, fair working conditions and proper social protection. I welcome this Commission evaluation, which shows ELA’s added value in supporting fair intra-EU labour mobility and ensuring respect for EU rules. This evaluation clearly points to the need to further strengthen the Authority including by reviewing its mandate. This is why, in early 2026, the Commission will come with a proposal to reinforce ELA, as part of a wider, Fair Labour Mobility package.”
The EU says the European Labour Authority was established in July 2019 to ensure the fair, simple and effective enforcement of EU labour mobility rules and social security.
The Commission must evaluate ELA’s performance every five years, providing a critical assessment of the Agency’s work and effectiveness.
