A preferred workforce? Employment practices of East–West cross-border labour commuters in the Central European Region

Abstract

This paper deals with employment practices in the context of East-West cross-border commuting in the Central European Region (CENTROPE). The purpose of the analysis is to better understand the demand side of labour commuting from the border regions of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia to Austria. Methodologically, 20 expert interviews were conducted with mayors, business owners, European Employment Services (EURES) employees and trade unionists operating in the region between 2011 and 2013. The analysis provides comprehensive information about the practice of employers, in particular their preference towards commuters as a flexible workforce and their patterns of rationalization of this preference, e. g. by referring to the commuters' specific work behaviour or differences in their local resident labour market in terms of income levels and employment opportunities.

Moving across Borders: The Work Life Experiences of Czech Cross‐border Workers during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…This qualitative exploration adds to the current discussion of inequality in transnational employment and the implications and effects of unethical practices towards international workers (Iossa and Persdotter, 2021 ; Katic and Ingram, 2018 ). While such negative effects have been reported previously for different groups of migrants, the problems faced by CBWs between the Czech Republic and Germany have not been evaluated in such depth before (Böhm, 2021 ; Haindorfer, 2020 ; Karacsony et al ., 2021 ; Novotny, 2021 ; Wiesböck, 2016 ). Our findings demonstrate an inequality in the treatment of CBWs in terms of finances and job security, but also in their daily lives.…”

“…Moreover, we illustrate the lack of available support for CBWs in both the home and host country, highlighting the challenge in terms of EU labour law obligations. Improved mechanisms are required to support the mobile cross‐border workforce (European Parliament, 2020 ; Thomas, 2020 ; Wiesböck, 2016 ) as well as different groups in the secondary segment of the labour market.…”

Posted Workers in Österreich: Grenzüberschreitende Entsendearbeit im Spannungsfeld von offenen Märkten und (supra-)nationaler Regulierung

“…Mit anderen Worten, ein "schlechter" Lohn in Österreich kann ein "guter" Lohn in Ungarn oder der Slowakei sein, vor allem dann, wenn der Lebensmittelpunkt im Herkunftsland bleibt (vgl. auch Wiesböck 2016).…”

De invloed van werkomstandigheden in Nederlandse distributiecentra op inzetbaarheidsovertuigingen van Hongaarse free movers

“…In deze bijdrage staat de wisselwerking tussen structurele en persoonlijke factoren van Middenen Oost-Europese free movers centraal. Door hun kwetsbare situatie op de West-Europese arbeidsmarkt, krijgen Midden-en Oost-Europese free movers vaak te maken met precaire werkomstandigheden, zoals blijkt uit eerder onderzoek in de horeca (Irimiás & Michalkó, 2016;Rydzik, Pritchard, Morgan, & Sedgley, 2017), in de landbouw (Kroon & Paauwe, 2014;Rye & Andrzejewska, 2010;Wiesböck, 2016) en in huishoudens (Anderson, 2007;Van Walsum, 2011). Als precaire werkomstandigheden worden verinnerlijkt, kunnen deze bijdragen aan een negatief perspectief op werk en inzetbaarheid (Thozhur, Riley, & Szivas, 2007).…”