(3/2/2010)

In an interview with Spanish Employment Minister Celestino Corbacho about the social commitments of the Spanish EU presidency, Mr Corbacho said that Spain supports the demand for “equal pay for equal work” concerning foreign posted workers, a contested principle in the recent judgments from the European Court of Justice. Says Mr Corbacho: “The courts have ruled that there can and must be freedom of movement for workers. The problem is that workers who have been (posted) from one country...

(21/1/2010)

At the recent hearings at the European Parliament with the designated Commissioners László Andor – for DG Emploment and Social Affairs – and Michel Barnier – for DG Internal Market and Financial Services – several questions were related to the implications of the judgments in the European Court of Justice: Laval, Viking, Rüffert and Luxembourg. László Andor agreed with the question from MEP Alejandro Cercas, that the fundamental problems were related to the interpretation of the...

(8/12/2009)

On 2 December 2009, the Swedish Labour Court delivered its final judgment in the Laval Case, sentencing the Swedish Construction and Electricians unions to pay damages and legal costs of 2.5 million SEK, ca 250 000 €. This is a remarkable judgment, since the same Court 5 years ago pronounced, in an interim decision, the industrial conflict as lawful according to Swedish legislation. The judgment in the Swedish Court has to be seen in connection to the bill recently put forward by the Swedish...

(23/9/2009)

The Danish trade union 3F has set a Danish contractor and a Polish sub-contracting company under blockade, since they have refused to sign a collective agreement guaranteeing Polish workers posted in Denmark wages and conditions in accordance with prevailing Danish levels. The Danish trade union has offered the companies a specially adapted collective agreement that takes into consideration the effects of the Laval judgment of the European Court of Justice, but even this agreement has been...

(10/9/2009)

On 16 September, the European Parliament will vote on the reappointment of Jose Manuel Barroso as Commission president. Mr Barroso has in this connection been talking to the political groups in the Parliament to win support. Last week Mr Barroso was questioned by MEPs from the Socialist and Democrats group about a document of priorities that he issued last Thursday. According to the newspaper European Voice, Mr Barroso “agreed to propose amending the EU directive on the posting of workers, so...