Labor Protections in the EU Posting System: A Comparative Study of Sweden, Germany, and Belgium

This study examines the posting system within the European Union, focusing on its impact on national labor markets and the protection of posted workers’ rights. By analyzing the interplay between national regulatory frameworks and EU-level directives and rulings, the research highlights Belgium as the most effective in safeguarding posted workers due to itsinstitutionalized tripartism, centralized wage bargaining, and robust registration systems. Sweden ranks second, with strong unions and embedded flexibilization facing challenges post-Laval, while Germany’s fragmented approach, late adoption of a national minimum wage, and enforcement gaps leave it trailing. The study reveals how informalization and labor marketsegmentation threaten the welfare-state model, emphasizing the need for cross-border cooperation and stronger EU enforcement. It calls for future research into high-wage postings, the rise of "atypical workers," and the lived experiences of posted workers.