Together we can fight social dumping -  Report from Labcit Round Table in Berlin 02/03 July 2016

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In a two day event on the situation of Polish migrants in Germany the Polish Social Council presented their report „Social Dumping by Subcontracting“ to a wide audience of social counsellors from migrant organisations. Extending the event to a pan-european perspective expert opinions and policy briefs from Labcit partners were included in the initial presentation.

While for the construction industry the well-known Mall of Berlin case was debated, the meat processing sector was broadly discussed with a focus on brutality and threatening living situations of the workers in East Germany.

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The different roles of migrant organisations and trade unions were in the centre of interest in the following discussion with our project partner “Projekt Faire Mobilität of the German Union Association (DGB)”. While the previous events were focussed on the political sphere our Round Table in July 2016 intended to find a joint approach of social counselling organisations tending to problems of people with polish migration background in Germany. As the main provider of counselling to the polish migrant community our audience was certainly aware of the social dumping issue but in dire need for networking and mutual support on the issues of Poles on the German Labour Market.

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On Sunday, the 3rd of July 2016, following an extensive exchange of experiences from different parts of Germany nine organisations signed a declaration of intend for the foundation of an social polish umbrella organisation. Nationally represented by the Polish Social Council (Polnischer Sozialrat e. V.) the new social, polish migration network intends to draw the attention of politicians and administrations to the social needs and rights as well as the potential of polish migrants in Germany.

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The participating organisations plan to found an umbrella organisation, which:

• functions as pivot for political parties, economy and media

• contributes to a better cross-linkage of existing structures

• based on the exchange of experiences of the members supports the improvement and extension of social counselling services

 

With the strength of joint representation we aim to more effectively fight the systematic exploitation of EU migrants on the German labour market. Building a bridge between polish migrants and the host society the new network champions an increased social participation of people with polish migration background in Germany.

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