Working There

Basic Rights

  • You have the right to work and retire in whichever EU country you want.
  • You should receive the same treatment as any national of this country and cannot be asked to meet additional requirements.
  • You can apply for any job advertised anywhere in the EU (apart from certain public service posts).

Important Current Restrictions

  • Please note: during a transitional period of maximum seven years, workers from some of the States which recently joined the EU may face restrictions on access to the labour markets of the previous Member States (EU-15), whilst workers from the EU-15 may face reciprocal restrictions in some of the new Member States.
  • There are also limitations on the access by citizens of new EU countries to unemployment benefits in an EU country other than their own.
  • Get information jobs and learning opportunities in Europe: http://europa.eu/eures

Family

  • Members of your family, whatever their nationality, have the right to accompany you or to join you in your country of employment.
  • Family members are entitled to have access to the general and vocational education available in your new country.

Job seeking

  • If you are unemployed, you have the right to live in an EU country for a ‘reasonable period’ of time to look for a job — mostly six months (but check this for the particular country). This can be extended.
  • You may also continue, for up to three months, to draw any unemployment benefit you may have been receiving, provided you meet certain conditions.
  • You are advised to contact your social security institution before leaving your home country for further information and advice on formalities to go through and forms to collect.

Recognition of Professional Qualifications

  • The EU single market gives you the freedom to pursue an occupation, on a self-employed or employed basis, in an EU country other than the one in which you acquired your professional qualifications.
  • There is a system in place at EU level that facilitates the recognition of these qualifications by different EU countries.
  • Further information can be found at http://europa.eu/youreurope

Social Security

  • EU rules ensure that you are affiliated to a single social protection scheme and that you lose none of your rights (particularly with regard to retirement).
  • In principle, you are insured in the country you work in.
  • You, and in certain circumstances, your family, are entitled to the same social security and welfare benefits as nationals of the host country. These rights cover sickness and maternity benefits (healthcare and financial benefits), disability, old-age and widow’s/widower’s benefits, benefits payable for accidents at work, occupational illness, death and unemployment, as well as family allowances.
  • You must also pay the same contributions as nationals of the host country.
  • However, there are special rules for cross-border workers and workers on temporary postings.

Conditions of Employment

  • You are subject to the same working conditions as nationals of the country you are working in as regards pay, dismissal and reintegration, as well as measures to protect health and safety at the workplace.

Trade Union Rights

  • You have the right to join the trade union of your choice and to exercise your union rights on the same conditions as host-country employees.

Self-Employed

  • You have the right to work as a self-employed person in any EU country, either permanently or temporarily.

Retired:

  • If you have worked in another EU country, you are entitled to retire there or stay there if you are permanently incapable of work because of an accident sustained during your working life, provided you fulfil certain conditions.
  • You must claim your right to stay within two years. You will then be entitled to be treated in the same way as a national (in relation to housing, social security, children’s education, etc.), just as when you were working.
  • The members of your family who are living in the country also have the right to stay, even after your death.

Working There: Equal Opportunities

Men And Women

Whether you are a man or a woman, you should be treated equally and have the same rights and opportunities in the workplace, in any EU country. EU law gives you the right to:

  • Equal pay for equal work;
  • Equal pay for work of equal value;
  • Equal treatment in the workplace (access to employment, vocational training, promotion, working conditions);
  • Equal treatment in social security schemes (statutory and occupational).

Pregnancy

In all EU countries, women have the right to the following before and after pregnancy:

  • An appropriate level of health and safety in the workplace;
  • No obligation to perform night work during your pregnancy;
  • A continuous period of maternity leave of at least 14 weeks, which must include the two weeks before and/or after the birth;
  • Time off for antenatal examinations (if they can be carried out only during work hours);
  • Protection from being dismissed because of pregnancy.

Parents

In all EU countries, parents have the right to:

  • Parental leave of at least three months on the grounds of birth or adoption of a child;
  • Time off for urgent family reasons (sickness, accidents).

 

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