News

Seven Member States carried out a joint action in road transport 17 – 23 February with the support of the European Labour Authority (ELA) and in partnership with the European Roads Policing Network (ROADPOL). The action focused on compliance with driving and resting time rules. Fines amounting to EUR 240 000 were imposed during the inspections. 

Workers from Romania were exploited at a waste processing plant in Budapest. They received meagre or no pay and lived in inhumane conditions.

Undeclared work, bogus self-employment and temporary contracts leaves many without essential protection like health insurance and pensions.

Joint inspections across the EU resulted in over 370 identified infringements. 

ELA launched the Call for Papers for the upcoming ELA TECH Conference 2025. 

An EU wide large-scale enforcement action to inspect compliance with wage rules took place in Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. 21 EU countries in total participated, supported by the European Labour Authority. More than 3 742 labour inspectors were involved in checking 1 615 employers and 14 122 employees.  

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal inspected river cruise ships and freight carriers in September coordinated and supported by the European Labour Authority and the waterborne law-enforcement network AQUAPOL. 78 ships and 82 companies were checked. Over 330 employees were interviewed. Breaches of minimum wage rules, expired visas or long working hours were discovered. Legal proceedings in at least 100 cases were initiated. 

Training focus was on roadside inspections, particularly on driving time, breaks and rest periods as well as on posting of drivers. Five sessions were held across Europe in 2024. 

Almost 500 hundred trucks and buses were checked by enforcement officers in southern Austria. The joint inspection resulted in 1451 identified offenses including multiple tachograph manipulation cases.