The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals
POSTING.STAT 2.0 aimed to complement the data collected on intra-EU posting at European level by bringing together a research consortium from the main sending and receiving Member States (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain). Following up from Posting.STAT 1.0, the goal of the second project was to increase the level of empirical evidence on intra-EU posting through the collection and analysis of national administrative data related to research questions that remained unexplored, such as data on third-country national posting, temporary work agency posting, subcontracting chains and monitoring and infringements. The consortium, coordinated by KU Leuven, consisted of 14 beneficiaries – including 1 affiliated partner - (mainly research institutes and universities) and 4 associated partners (social partners and a public authority).
EVIDENCE: The first main objective of the proposal was to collect administrative (micro)data from the competent public authorities to obtain more detailed information on the scale, characteristics, and impact of intra-EU posting, both in the main receiving and sending Member States. Furthermore, the aim was to get a better view on the enforcement of the posting rules, by reporting data collected from the national labour inspectorates. Results of this exercise were reported in 11 country-specific reports and 4 thematic papers.
COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION: The second main objective was to stimulate the discussion about intra-EU posting and to disseminate the results of the data collection. In that regard, 11 country-specific webinars and 4 thematic-specific webinars were organised. Finally, the results were discussed at a closing conference in Leuven as well as at other conferences (e.g., by organising a panel discussion at the European Labour Mobility Congress in Krakow).
Related to objective 1:
Evidence Approach: preparing and publishing country reports (in English with an executive summary in one of the national languages of the Member State concerned), thematic reports, and infographics.
Methodology: collection and analysis of national administrative data on intra-EU posting and the enforcement of it; and a comparative analysis of the collected data.
Related to objective 2:
Communication and dissemination Approach: communication of the results
Methodology: publication and announcement of the country reports, the infographics and the thematic reports; organisation of thematic-specific webinars at EU level and country-specific webinars at national level; organisation of a closing conference in Leuven, participation in a conference, and a panel session during the European Labour Mobility Congress.
11 country reports
11 infographics
4 thematic papers
4 thematic webinars
11 country-specific webinars
Final conference
Austria remains predominantly a receiving country for posted workers. Incoming postings continued to increase until 2023, extending trends observed since 2011. From 2023 to 2024, postings to Austria declined, particularly in construction, likely reflecting weaker economic conditions and rising unemployment. The average duration of non-transport postings also shortened, contributing to a reduction in the number of posted workers measured in full-time equivalents (FTE), from 1.7% of total employment in 2019 to 0.75% in 2024. Construction and transport continue to be the primary receiving sectors. Most postings originate from neighbouring countries, including Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Lithuania was a major source of transport postings in 2021–2022. Third-country nationals (TCNs) represented a significant share of postings in 2022, especially Ukrainians and Belarusians posted from Lithuania and Poland in transport, and Bosnian workers posted from Slovenia. From a sending-country perspective, Austrian postings increased until 2023, with differing sectoral dynamics: Austria is primarily a receiving country in transport, but both a sending and a receiving country in construction. Enforcement activity remained stable, while suspected underpayment and administrative infringements declined, potentially indicating improved compliance, though further research is needed to confirm underlying causes.
The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals
