Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak

Summary:

Communication issued by the European Commission on 30 March 2020, setting out advice to ensure that mobile workers within the European Union (EU) - in particular those in critical occupations to fight the coronavirus pandemic - can reach their workplace.

Further information:

The guidelines identify a range of workers that exercise critical occupations, and for which continued free movement in the EU is deemed essential. The Commission urges Member States to establish specific burden free and fast procedures to ensure a smooth passage for such frontier workers.

This Communication also clarifies that Member States should allow frontier workers in general to continue crossing borders if work in the sector concerned is still allowed in the host Member States. Member States should treat cross-border workers and national workers in the same manner. As regards seasonal workers, Member States are asked to exchange information on their different needs and to establish specific procedures to ensure a smooth passage for such workers, in order to respond to labour shortages as a result of the crisis.

These guidelines were published as a response to the request made by the European Council in the framework of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 30/03/2020: Coronavirus: Commission presents practical guidance to ensure the free movement of critical workers https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_545

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