Strengthening the mandate of the European labour authority

The author assesses the functioning of the European Labour Authority (ELA), an effort to enhance control over and enforcement of the working conditions of migrant workers who cross the border into the EU. His contribution reflects on some of the shortcomings that have been there from the start, in terms of both the ELA’s competences and the missing links with other, sometimes more determinant policy areas in the single market, such as freedom of establishment and free service provision with posted workers. This is especially relevant for third-country nationals recruited to work inside the EU. Enforcing working conditions and tackling bogus practices involving posted third-country nationals inside EU territory should be part of the ELA’s work.