The valueable commodity of the right of free movement of workers and the freedom to provide services in the EU has created a wide variety of modern working nomands: On the one hand, the highly qualified cosmopolitan expatriates, who are courted by companies – the performance leaders. They know that they are sought after and expensive and they are the ones that determine the framework conditions of their work themselves. On the other hand, there are the modern wage slaves. They come mainly from Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Moldova or Ukraine. They work in slaughterhouses, as geriatric nurses -so-called Live Ins - in private households, on the fields, as a driver, in the building trade or as prostitutes. They do not have the power to negotiate the framework conditions of their work. The minimum standards of decent work usually is not determined by national or European laws either. Subcontractors place them via sercice contract as bogus self-employed – beyond European or national law – in german or other european companies. In this way, minimum wages are bypassed and earned money is withdrawn elsewhere: by extorted overtime, claiming placement fees, costs for transports and accommodation, etc. The project: - as a first step will identify existing networks and advisory initiatives for migrant workers in order to facilitate close and cross-border cooperation. In addition, best practice models are presented on a digital platform for mutual exchange - analyzes the lack of consultation structures for migrant workers and their families in the countries of origin and, at the same time, looks for partner organisations in order to be able to fill these gaps in the future. Along with, the necessary consulting services will be defined (rights and remedies, ducational work, etc.) - will strengthening lobbying against precarious and degrading working conditions in the immigration countries and will connect the initiatives of the immigration countries with those of the countries of origin. - creates an European network structure of initiatives and organisations that advise and support migrant workers in the countries of origin and immigration. The joint cooperation is guaranteed by a European employee representative such as EZA or ETUC, which can powerfully bundle lobbying and manage campaigns, educational work, best practice models, legal bases, etc., both efficiently and effectively. The materials are available on a website to named organisations and to the public. We expect an impact in terms of increasing the level of information for the participating networks and advisory institutions in the participating countries with regard to European cooperation. Institutions get to know each other, exchange information about their offers and working methods, support each other in future in their political lobbying not only on a country-specific basis and set up and thus use more effective protection instruments for migrant workers threatened by wage slavery and social exclusion than before. Institutions recognise good practice and are then able to transfer best practices to their country and industry, use the digital space of the platform to form political and enlightenment campaigns. Grassroot experience will gradually lead to a bundling of work at the European level.
Political lobbying to improve the situation, networking of help and counselling services and building an international exchange platform, targeted actions to enable public awareness - these were all our goals, which we also achieved to a large extent.
The great good of free movement of workers and freedom to provide services in the EU has produced very different modern job nomads: on the one side are the highly qualified cosmopolitan expatriates courted by companies - the performance elite. On the other side are the modern wage slaves: they come mainly from Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Moldova or Ukraine. They work in slaughterhouses, as care workers - so-called live ins - in private households, in fields, in the building trade, as drivers or in prostitution. They do not have the means to negotiate the conditions of their work. The minimum standards of decent work are usually not determined by national or European laws, but by subcontractors who have them work for German or other European companies under contracts for work and labour beyond European or national law. In this way, minimum wages are circumvented and money earned is siphoned off elsewhere: by extorting overtime, demanding agency fees, costs for transport and accommodation, etc. Such conditions in the middle of Europe are unacceptable. Such conditions in the middle of Europe are unacceptable and should be abolished - that is/was our motivation.