Marianne Thyssen, European employment commissioner, speaks at a press conference in Strasbourg, 13 March 2018. Thyssen introduced the proposed European Labour Authority. European Commission/Elyxandro Cegarra

Marianne Thyssen, European employment commissioner, speaks at a press conference in Strasbourg, 13 March 2018. Thyssen introduced the proposed European Labour Authority. European Commission/Elyxandro Cegarra

The proposal, which was previously alluded to in the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s 2017 state of the union address, seeks to increase social fairness and includes an initiative to ensure access to social protection for all workers and self-employed.

According to the commission, the last decade has seen the number of mobile employees, people living and/or working in another member state, has almost doubled to 17 million in 2017. Its announcement stated:

“The European Labour Authority will help individuals, businesses and national administrations to get the most out of the opportunities offered by free movement and ensure fair labour mobility.” 

The authority has three objectives:

  • To provide information to citizens and businesses on job opportunities, apprenticeships, mobility schemes, recruitment and training, as well as guidance on the rights and obligations to live and work in another member state;
  • Support cooperation between national authorities in cross-border situations, to help them ensure EU rules that protect and regulate mobility are followed; and
  • To provide mediation and facilitate solutions in case of cross-border disputes.