The Posting of Workers Saga: A Potted Version of the Challenges Engulfing Social Europe

Abstract

This policy brief examines the development of and background to the 2018 Posting of Workers Directive. Arguably, the new Directive illustrates the uneasy development of a European social dimension and marks a sea-change to the previous approach, which can be attributed to a change of preferences in some central and eastern European countries in the light of the failed convergence strategy underpinned by low wages. The briefing argues that the posting of workers saga highlights the increased diversity of national industrial relations systems, while also showing that positive solutions can be found to the challenges of low-end social competition.