Spain and France collaborate in search of a single registry to avoid fraud in labour mobility

Labour inspectors from the Spanish and French governments are working together to ensure fair labour mobility between workers from both states, advocating for the prevention of fraud and trying to prevent the reduction of their labour rights. They met on Wednesday and Thursday at the Delegation of the national Executive in Zaragoza. 

This meeting, which involves the steering committee of the Labour and Social Security Inspections and also the Inspections of the border regions of both states , arises in order to follow up on the agreement signed between both countries in 2019 to improve labour inspections on both sides of the border. The intention is now to implement a system that allows labour rights to be controlled through a single registry. 

“This meeting serves, above all, to exchange information. Its purpose is to get to know each other better and explore avenues for future collaboration ,” explained Cristina Fernández, director general of the State Agency for the Inspection of Labour and Social Security (OIETSS). 

Among the challenges, for example, is finding out more about the accidents suffered by Spaniards in France or vice versa. “We must ensure that workers are registered in the appropriate social security system and that the working conditions of those who are posted are respected,” said the Director General of the OIETSS.

INCREASE IN DISPLACED PEOPLE IN RECENT YEARS

Fernández González agreed with the territorial director of the Labour and Social Security Inspection in Aragon, Román García Oliver, that in recent years an increase in displaced persons has been detected, especially from Spain to France . “We are mainly senders. An effort is being made to ensure that these people carry out their profession under the legal conditions that correspond to them in France and that their social security rights are respected in Spain,” García Oliver said.

He himself has estimated that the number of workers coming to Spain has increased by almost 20% , which, he said, poses a challenge for inspections. These employees are mainly linked to the agricultural sector and to the industrial assembly sector, for example, of photovoltaic parks.