PASIDIXE: Fair Provisions for Internal Mobility of Third-Country Workers
The renewal of the collective labor agreement, combined with the ongoing labor shortage, has necessitated the relaxation of hiring criteria for foreign workers from third countries. PASIDIXE believes that a responsible and professional management of this policy can offer significant benefits to the hospitality industry—a sector where working conditions often discourage local labor participation.
The inclusion of personnel from third countries is not solely a cost-related issue. It results from the exhaustion of available options in the labor market. The recruitment of these workers is vital for ensuring the smooth operation of businesses, as relying exclusively on European citizens is insufficient.
Despite the benefits, the uncontrolled use of the right to mobility (“release”) creates serious challenges. Its indiscriminate application undermines efforts to address labor shortages, generating further disruptions among businesses.
At the same time, companies bear high recruitment and transportation costs, which they often cannot recover when employees prematurely transfer to other firms.
Protecting the rights of third-country workers is non-negotiable. However, the burden of expenses exceeding €2,000 per worker falling on one company while another ultimately benefits is unfair.
PASIDIXE calls on the government to review and improve the regulatory framework governing the “release” policy. It proposes that recruitment and transportation costs should be borne by the employer only under normal conditions. In cases of premature mobility, these costs should either be transferred to the new employer or deducted from the employee.
Furthermore, PASIDIXE urges relevant authorities to introduce the necessary amendments to the related legislation. It also encourages businesses to avoid practices that disrupt fair cooperation and undermine healthy competition within the sector.
January 25, 2025