On February 17-18, 2025, the 8th edition of the European Labour Mobility Congress (ELMC) took place at the ICE Congress Centre in Kraków. As every year, the event attracted participants from Poland and across Europe, focusing on issues related to the Single Market, labour mobility, and the freedom to provide services.
The first day of the Congress, known as SIMFO@ELMC (Single Market Forum within the European Labour Mobility Congress), was held as an official event of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions on key topics concerning the Single Market, including the expansion of the EU to new member states, free trade agreements, and the challenges of posting workers in the context of the freedom to provide services.
One of the central topics addressed at the Congress was the posting of workers, which has been a subject of intense debate at the EU level for years. While in theory, posting benefits all parties involved—allowing workers to earn higher wages than in their home countries, ensuring their rights under the principle of more favorable conditions, and providing businesses with access to the EU market without requiring the establishment of branches in each member state—in practice, it faces numerous challenges. Allegations of social dumping, unfair business practices, and enforcement difficulties have made worker posting one of the most controversial issues in EU policy discussions over the past decade.
This is why the first day of the Congress was dedicated to in-depth discussions on the EU Single Market, the distinction between social protection and protectionism, and the impact of the 'equal pay for equal work' principle on wage disparities within the EU. Experts debated whether enforcement challenges justify legislative changes and how to strike a balance between the freedom to provide services and worker protection.
The second day of the Congress focused on practical solutions to challenges related to labour mobility and the functioning of the Single Market. Participants attended workshops, where experts provided valuable insights, strategies, and best practices for managing posting processes and ensuring compliance with legal regulations.
💡 We sincerely thank all participants for joining us at the Congress!
📢 Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming events organized by the European Labour Mobility Institute.
