LOGO

The SOHA project examines cohesion initiatives in Europe. The aim is to shed light on solidarity-based action as a unifying element of specific interactions. At the iaw we want to understand and reconstruct the positions and networks of the social partners in the context of the European minimum wage standard as well as transnational cooperation and projects for the implementation of existing legal standards for posted workers. The project is conducted by the Institute for Labour and the Economy (iaw) and the Centre for Work and Politics (zap) at the University of Bremen and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Duration:
01 January 2021 - 31 December 2023

Research Team:
Dr. Philipp Gies (Head of project)
Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Irene Dingeldey
Franziska Laudenbach
Dr. Ilana Nussbaum Bitran

Not least due to the current pandemic, social inequalities are increasing in Germany and also in Europe. The labour market continues to be one of the central "motors" of this process. In order to counteract the increasing social division, the SOHA project examines cohesion initiatives in Europe. The aim is to shed light on solidarity-based action as a unifying element of specific interactions. It can be assumed that cooperative handling within the different lines of conflict (between capital and labour, between workers and their interest groups in different sectors and from different countries) and in increasingly international labour markets is an essential element for the success of the European project and the democratic shaping of cohesion. Thus, transnational solidarity in the world of work is the focus of SOHA. Transnational solidarity is understood as a comprehensive, mutual problem-solving will of various European and national actors at different levels of action and in different regulatory or implementation contexts. In order to counteract national egoisms, SOHA focuses on the conditions for success of already existing forms of cooperation in various thematic fields. The  Institute Labour and Economy  (iaw) leads the sub-project that examines the current events concerning the establishment of a European minimum wage as well as initiatives to support mobile workers (posted workers on the basis of the freedom to provide services), such as the cooperation project "fair mobility".

 

The following questions are addressed:

• What positions are being taken in the current discourse on the design of a European minimum wage regulation and how are the transnational contacts and networks within and between the different social partners at sectoral level?
• What concrete cooperation initiatives exist for the implementation of the (latest) Posting of Workers Directive and for the counseling and representation of posted workers?
• What are the preconditions for transnational solidarity-based action? What are the restrictions?

 

For the implementation of this project, the positions and networks of the social partners in connection with the European minimum wage standard and the Posting of Workers Directive will be analysed. In order to investigate the conditions for success of transnational cooperation initiatives and projects regarding the implementation of existing legal standards for posted workers, expert interviews in five European sending and receiving countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Germany) will be conducted. These interviews will be analysed focusing on the motives and conditions for the emergence of transnational solidarity initiatives.

The research team members at the iaw are PD. Dr. Irene Dingeldey and Dr. Ilana Nussbaum Bitran

 

Project homepage:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/places-and-motives-of-acts-of-solidarity-in-transnational-working-relations

Duration:
01 January 2021 - 31 December 2023

Research Team:
Dr. Philipp Gies (Head of project)
Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Irene Dingeldey
Franziska Laudenbach
Dr. Ilana Nussbaum Bitran

Project Type:
Third-party funded project