Ahead of the adoption of her opinion on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive by the CoR December plenary session, we talked to CoR rapporteur Yoomi Renström, Mayor of Ovanåker (PES/Sweden).
According to the European Commission, Sweden is the 9th EU country per number of received posted workers (some 33 000) and this number increased by nearly 70% between 2010 and 2014. What is your experience, as Mayor of Ovanåker, when it comes to posted workers and which are the main challenges for local and regional authorities?
Sweden is a country that in many ways needs workers. In the care sector, for example, the system works well and gives a welcome boost to staffing in hospitals.
A majority of workers posted in the construction sector end up in larger regions and cities, but we have no authority that oversees this. On the other hand, we do have a strong trade union system that broadly takes responsibility for ensuring that postings are in compliance with the law. If problems arise, unions can take action. Trade unions say that the number of posted workers is considerably underreported, owing among other things to letterbox companies and the fact that the exact conditions companies are working under cannot be established. The EU is trying to address these problems with the Enforcement Directive. Part of the challenge from my point of view as a local councillor is to balance the open market in the EU with ensuring that local businesses in my area do not end up in a competitive situation that puts them out of work.
Why do you believe that a common definition at EU level of the rules applicable to the posting of workers is needed?
Certain countries need labour and others gain from being able to provide services. But problems arise because economic conditions and regulatory systems vary so much between countries. These problems cannot be solved at national level or through various agreements or pacts. Lasting solutions can only be achieved at EU level. Greater clarity makes it easier not just for businesses that use services but also for companies that sell their services. If they know what costs and conditions apply, then it is easier for them to plan on that basis. So no country is a winner or loser with respect to worker mobility: if well managed, it is an asset for the EU. If all the EU Member States had an equivalent economic and social environment, competition between workers would be more about quality and skills than about wage levels. This is what our ultimate goal should be.
