From 7 to 9 September 2026, the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (CATUS) hosted Dr Irina Lazarova from the Berlin Advisory Centre for Migration and Decent Work (BEMA). During the three-day visit, discussions focused on the protection of the rights of migrant and mobile workers, working conditions, labour exploitation, forced labour, and workers’ access to information and legal assistance, as well as Germany’s experience in providing advisory support to migrant and posted workers from Serbia and the region. The programme included meetings with representatives of the National Employment Service, trade unions, the Embassy of Germany and the Goethe-Institut, as well as the organisations ASTRA and Group 484, which deals with issues related to migration and the protection of migrants’ rights. Discussions also focused on opportunities to improve cooperation and exchange experiences between CATUS and BEMA, particularly in the area of protecting mobile and migrant workers. Dr Lazarova presented the BEMA organisation, which is part of the Arbeit und Leben advisory network that provides advice and support to foreign workers in around 20 languages through offices across Germany in exercising their rights. The most common problems concern the payment of wages, termination of employment, work-related documents, followed by working hours, occupational injuries, annual leave and other types of leave, and other issues. The study visit was held within the framework of the Fair Labour Mobility (FELM) project, under which CATUS established a Consultation Centre for Posted and Mobile Workers and the provision of legal advice in 2024.
