Workers’ mobility year: a danger for poor and homeless?

Two days after the launch of the EU Year of Worker Mobility, FEANTSA, the federation of national organisations working with the homeless, has questioned whether worker mobility policies are good for vulnerable groups in society.

“The EU risks to worsen the situation of vulnerable people by calling for less regulation in the housing market to boost employment rates.” This is the warning of FEANTSA, the European umbrella of national organisations working with homeless and poor people in Europe.

In a briefing paper, the organisation questions some of the policy recommendations behind the European Year of Workers’ Mobility launched on 20 February (see EURACTIV 21 February 2006). FEANTSA draws attention to the fact that labour mobility “concerns mostly young and highly skilled people” and takes issue with some EU recommendations to deregulate member states’ housing markets to promote labour mobility. Interventions in the housing market can have negative effects for homeless and poor people, according to the organisation.

“It is necessary to address the following questions,” says FEANTSA: “Is labour mobility contributing to higher levels of employment amongst the poor? Does deregulation of the rental housing sector lead to increased labour mobility and how does it affect the living conditions of the poor? What impact does housing market deregulation have on the most vulnerable groups?”

The briefing concludes: “There is a real risk that housing market measures taken by Member States following EU advice in order to facilitate labour mobility, do not take into consideration the actual needs of vulnerable citizens and as a result worsen their situation.”

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