Cross-border employment centre set up in Valença

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A European "cross-border employment centre" has recently been established in Valença, as part of a European Community EURES project that covers northern Portugal and Galicia in Spain. The initiative aims to combat clandestine labour, promote greater transparency in the labour market and encourage the mobility of workers within Europe.

A European "cross-border employment centre" has recently been established in Valença, which is part of the European Community EURopean Employment Services (EURES) Community project that covers northern Portugal from Caminha to Chaves, and Galicia, Spain. The aims of the initiative are to: combat clandestine labour; promote greater transparency in the labour market; and encourage the mobility of workers within the European Economic Area. As provided for in an agreement signed by the Association of the Vale do Minho Municipalities (Associação de Municípios do Vale do Minho) and the European Commission, support in the creation of the new employment centre was given by the (Portuguese) Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional), the (Spanish) National Employment Institute (Instituto Nacional de Empleo), the Council of Galicia, the "Labour Community" of Galicia-Northern Portugal (Comunidade de Trabalho Galicia-Norte de Portugal), and other associations of municipalities and provinces.

A great number of Portuguese workers cross the border and enter Galicia clandestinely, seeking better wages and evading the control of the Spanish and Portuguese authorities. The centre (where two trade union "Euroadvisers" will operate) will attempt to regulate circulation between the two border regions, based on supply and demand for jobs. It will also provide information, take stock of vocational training opportunities, and participate in developing vocational training initiatives for the border area.

Clandestine labour is an issue that concerns trade unions in the regions on both sides of the border, as does the need to change workers' conditions in terms of social security and precarious employment. The Galicia-Northern Portugal Trade Union Committee (Comité Sindical Galiza-Norte de Portugal), which includes representatives from CGTP-IN and UGT on the Portuguese side, and CC.OO and UGT from Galicia, met in January 1998 to analyse the social situation in the two regions, and identified clandestine labour as a priority target for 1998. This affects a greater number of Portuguese workers, who are less qualified than those entering Portugal, and is especially common in the lumber and stone quarry sectors.

Although free circulation between the Member States has already been guaranteed by law, it is, in reality, often limited by the high levels of unemployment. This is what is happening along the Portuguese border and it is uncontrolled. For trade unions, it is seen as important to inform workers of the employment rights guaranteed by European Union legislation, while the need for a concerted effort on the part of the unions in both regions has also been highlighted.