International cooperation and cross-border inspection within the European Union (EU) is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the Netherlands Labour Authority's work. It therefore works with other Member States and the European Labour Authority to tackle labour market abuses.
The European Labour Authority (ELA), which became operational in 2019, offers many new opportunities for EU-wide cooperation on fair work. The ELA, which is based in the Slovak capital Bratislava, was established to support fair labour mobility and the coordination of social security within the EU.
It helps Member States monitor and enforce EU rules and rights relating to labour mobility. Another of its responsibilities is to make sure that workers and employers have better access to information on their rights and obligations.
Among other things, the ELA facilitates joint inspections by providing logistical support and other forms of cooperation between Member States. The ELA also runs several EU-wide working groups, provides professional training and offers cross-border mediation and dispute resolution services.