Freedom of Movement For Workers

The freedom of movement for workers is a policy chapter of the acquis communautaire of the European Union. It is part of the free movement of persons and one of the four economic freedoms: free movement of goods, services, labour and capital. Article 45 TFEU (ex 39 and 48) states that:

  1. Freedom of movement for workers shall be secured within the Community.
  2. Such freedom of movement shall entail the abolition of any discrimination based on nationality between workers of the Member States as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment.
  3. It shall entail the right, subject to limitations justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health:
    (a) to accept offers of employment actually made;
    (b) to move freely within the territory of Member States for this purpose;
    (c) to stay in a Member State for the purpose of employment in accordance with the provisions governing the employment of nationals of that State laid down by law, regulation or administrative action;
    (d) to remain in the territory of a Member State after having been employed in that State, subject to conditions which shall be embodied in implementing regulations to be drawn up by the Commission.
  4. The provisions of this article shall not apply to employment in the public service.

The right to free movement has both 'horizontal' and 'vertical' direct effect, such that a private citizen can invoke the right, without more, in an ordinary court, against other persons, both governmental and non-governmental.

Read more about Freedom Of Movement For Workers:  History, Definition of "worker", Extent of The Right, Discrimination and Market Access, Public Service Exception, Directives and Regulations, Social Rights, Transitional Provisions in New Member States

Famous quotes containing the words freedom, movement and/or workers:

    Only very slowly and late have men come to realize that unless freedom is universal it is only extended privilege.
    Christopher Hill (b. 1912)

    You watched and you saw what happened and in the accumulation of episodes you saw the pattern: Daddy ruled the roost, called the shots, made the money, made the decisions, so you signed up on his side, and fifteen years later when the women’s movement came along with its incendiary manifestos telling you to avoid marriage and motherhood, it was as if somebody put a match to a pile of dry kindling.
    Anne Taylor Fleming (20th century)

    Ireland still remains the Holy Isle whose aspirations must on no account be mixed with the profane class-struggles of the rest of the sinful world ... the Irish peasant must not on any account know that the Socialist workers are his sole allies in Europe.
    Friedrich Engels (1820–1895)