site.btaExecutive Director of European Labour Authority Gives Public Lecture in Varna

Labour mobility helps solve the problem of personnel shortage in the European Union, said Cosmin Boiangiu, Executive Director of the European Labour Authority (ELA), in Varna on Tuesday. Boiangiu gave a public lecture at the University of Economics at the invitation of Prof. Andriana Andreeva, Regional Governor of Varna and lecturer in the Legal Sciences Department of the university.

According to Boiangiu, one of the main priorities of ELA is the protection of workers' rights. "Young people, and not only them, should know that regardless of which country of the Union they are in, they have the same rights as its residents", Boiangiu pointed out. He emphasised that everyone should know what their rights are and seek support if those are violated. "We have control bodies that ensure there are no abuses with working foreigners", noted Boiangiu, adding that this also covers people from third countries who arrive in the EU.

According to him, beside labour mobility, remote work is also a factor in solving the problem of the aging population in Europe, as well as countering the lack of personnel. He said that "virtual" workers contribute to more flexibility in the market, and they also have rights that must be respected.

ELA was established on July 31, 2019 as an EU body to help strengthen fairness and trust in the internal market. The institution aims to contribute to ensuring fair and effective labour mobility across the EU and to assist Member States and the European Commission in the coordination of social security systems in the EU. Since 2021 ELA has its permanent seat in Bratislava, Slovakia.