When: 9 June 2026, 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Where: Marseille Room, Level 4, Besenbinderhof 60, Hamburg
Format: Hybrid event (in-person and online streaming)
A collaboration between Arbeit und Leben Hamburg and HAW Hamburg as part of the TRAM4DW project.
Why are labour law violations part of everyday life in many sectors in Germany, and what prevents employees from asserting their rights What can labour rights counselling achieve, and where are its limitations? We will explore these questions on 9 June. The event will open with an expert talk by Nikolai Huke (University of Hamburg), presenting empirical findings from the research project “Labour Rights in Precarious Living Conditions.” Drawing on over 70 interviews with (predominantly foreign) employees and legal advice centres, he will highlight barriers and pathways to accessing labour law.
In the subsequent World Café, counsellors, representatives from public authorities and academics will have the opportunity to build on these insights. Through joint discussions, we will explore the framework conditions for decent work, reflect on experiences from counselling and seek ways to improve social participation.
Programme
9.30 – 10.00 am
Arrival and registration
10:00 – 10:30
- Introduction: Human and Labour Rights Compliance in the Context of TRAM4DW
Dr Christo Karabadjakov - HAMBURG TRAM4DW HUB in the Framework of Arbeit & Leben
Lena Thombansen
10:30 – 11:30
Expert Talk: “Legal mobilisation in cases of labour law violations: barriers and bridges to access to labour law for foreign workers”
Dr Nikolai Huke, University of Hamburg
11:30 – 12:00
Break
12:00 – 13:00
World Café
Group discussion on various aspects of mobility
Table 1
“The costs of mobility in the EU: Skilled labour shortage and precariousness”.
The impact of migration on European labour markets.
Table 2
“Think global and act close to people”
Effective counselling in the European context.
Table 3
“Behind the wall of our national labour market”
Does Germany’s welcoming culture enable social participation?
13:00 – 13:30
Presentation and discussion of the results in plenary
1.30 pm
End of the event
About the TRAM4DW project
How does the right to free movement affect national labour markets, particularly the employment of foreign workers; how are EU regulations applied and complied with, and are conditions for decent work being created in selected European countries? – these and similar questions form the starting point for the work in the ‘Transnational Migration Counselling For Decent Work’ project. The partners aim to implement preventive measures to address precarious working conditions at five locations in Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Ukraine.
Please make sure that you register for the event well in advance. As space at the Besenbinderhof is limited, on-site participation will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone unable to attend due to lack of space will receive a link for the online stream.
Register for the event
Secure your place by completing the registration form below.
