On September 1st, 2020, TransFair partners arranged an information action for truck drivers on international transport journeys.
The Slovenian union nsds and the Austrian union vida met for a joint action on the highway next to Prepolje near the Austrian-Slovenian border to provide truck drivers with information about minimum wage entitlements when they work abroad. Many of the drivers coming from and via Slovenia are heading for Western European countries to provide transport services there. In this case, they are entitled to the minimum wages of the host countries. For example: when a truck driver of Bosnian origin, employed by a Slovenian haulier that has a service contract with an Austrian contractor, loads and/or unloads in Austria, he is entitled to the Austrian minimum wage (stipulated in the collective agreement for goods transport). The difference between Austrian and Slovenian minimum wage is tremendous: while € 9,42 in Austria, it is € 5,49 in Slovenia.
TransFair partners prepared a leaflet with information on minimum wage, that daily expenses for food and accommodation cannot be counted for minimum wage, on advices to document working time and on contact details for further counselling. All in all, around 40 truck drivers could be reached in the action that lasted from 10 am to 2 pm. The reception by drivers was overwhelmingly positive; the majority of them reported either infringements against working time, rest times or underpayment. Hence, it was an important move by nsds and vida to show joint presence against wage and social dumping in road transport.
Please click here for a short video on the action in German.