A snack debate about “Labour Migration, Integration and Social Dialogue” took place online on 1 July 2026, organized by EZA in cooperation with MCL / EFAL (Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori / Ente Nazionale per la Formazione e l'Addestramento dei Lavoratori) and funded by the European Union. The seminar gathered more than 40 representatives of workers’ organisations from 18 EU Member States, reflecting the European dimension of the topic.
The most important aspect of the snack debate was to discuss the role of labour migration in addressing Europe's demographic and labour market challenges, while highlighting the importance of social dialogue, trade unions and local governance in ensuring the successful integration of migrant workers into European labour markets.
The event aimed to present the main conclusions of a recent ADAPT report commissioned by EZA member organisation MCL/EFAL. The report analyses the labour integration of migrants and the role of workers’ organisations in this context. The event took place at a time when migration has returned to the centre of the European political agenda. In the weeks preceding the event, the European Parliament approved a new “Return Regulation” for third-country nationals, including provisions that could allow the establishment of return centres in third countries. However, while public debate increasingly focuses on border management and security concerns, the seminar highlighted another pressing reality: Europe's ageing population and growing labour shortages are making labour migration an increasingly important component of economic and social sustainability.
Topic fields discussed
• Demographic change and labour shortages
o Impact of population ageing and declining birth rates on European labour markets.
o Growing labour shortages in key economic sectors.
o The contribution of migrant workers to economic sustainability and growth.
• Labour migration and labour market integration
o Barriers faced by migrant workers, including language, bureaucracy and recognition of qualifications.
o Risks of occupational segregation, overqualification and precarious employment.
o Importance of quality employment as a prerequisite for successful integration.
• Role of trade unions and social dialogue
o Trade unions as actors promoting equal treatment and workers’ rights.
o Legal support, information services and advocacy for migrant workers.
o Social dialogue as a mechanism to prevent labour market segmentation and exploitation.
• Local governance and multi-actor cooperation
o Cooperation between trade unions, employers, local authorities and civil society organisations.
o Examples of territorial initiatives supporting labour market integration.
o Importance of local-level action in translating rights into practical opportunities.
• Current developments in EU migration policy
o Recent developments in EU migration and return policies.
o Tensions between restrictive migration policies and economic demand for labour.
o The need to balance migration management with integration objectives.
Results
Results of the discussions
Participants broadly agreed that viewing migration solely through the lens of security and border control is overly reductive.
Migration has become an essential component of Europe's response to demographic decline and labour shortages. At the same time, successful integration requires more than access to employment; it also depends on fair working conditions, recognition of qualifications, social participation and equal treatment.
The discussions highlighted the crucial role of trade unions and social partners in supporting migrant workers through legal assistance, representation, training and collective bargaining. Particular emphasis was placed on local partnerships and territorial social dialogue as effective tools for addressing integration challenges.
A noteworthy contribution during the Q&A stressed the importance of providing migrant workers with clear and accessible information about their rights. Participants underlined that information and awareness are often the first and most important steps in preventing exploitation and enabling effective integration into the labour market.
Demands
Key demands discussed included:
strengthening labour market integration policies alongside migration management policies;
improving the recognition of foreign qualifications and skills;
expanding language training and vocational training opportunities;
ensuring equal treatment and preventing labour market segmentation;
reinforcing the role of trade unions and social partners in integration processes;
promoting local and territorial social dialogue involving municipalities, employers, unions and civil society organisations;
improving access to information on labour rights for migrant workers.
Consequences for daily work and follow-up
The event reinforced the importance of integrating migration and labour market issues into the work of trade unions and workers' organisations. Participants highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between social partners and local actors and to continue exchanging good practices on the integration of migrant workers.
The discussions and findings presented during the event will contribute to future EZA activities on labour migration, social dialogue, labour market inclusion and demographic change.