Language teachers are demanding their rights
The European institutions offer their staff language courses that play a practical role in career progression, such as mastering a third language, accessing promotion, securing a permanent contract for GFIV staff and preparing for posts outside the EU. These courses are delivered by qualified, experienced teachers who play an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the institutions, yet they are exploited and their legal status does not reflect this.
In fact, these teachers are employed on a self-employed basis through private companies that hold public contracts awarded by the European Commission. However, according to their representative body, this contractual arrangement does not reflect their actual situation: they lack the organisational freedom and client base that characterise self-employment. This status deprives them of essential rights, such as a guaranteed minimum wage, social security, health cover, pension rights, protection against dismissal and access to social dialogue. It also hinders their ability to develop teaching methods tailored to institutional multilingualism.
In response to this situation, U4U has lent its support to the teachers’ collective. A legal opinion has been drawn up and a petition (which can be signed here) has been launched to raise awareness among staff at the institutions. The next step is to refer the matter to the relevant Belgian commission responsible for labour relations. This could lead to mediation or legal action to have the contracts reclassified as employment contracts under Belgian law.
Such a procedure comes at a cost. That is why the collective has launched a donation appeal, addressed to both the petition signatories and the students on the courses themselves. Every donation, no matter how small, helps fund an initiative that goes beyond mere legal status. It is about defending the quality of language teaching in our institutions and putting an end to organised precariousness at the heart of the European public service.
U4U is calling on its members to respond to this appeal. Information on how to contribute can be found in the collective’s message, which is published alongside this article.
U4U supports the demands of language teachers. They are also entitled to fair pay and decent working conditions!
Language teachers play a vital role in the professional development of civil servants and other staff in the European public service.
In a multicultural and multilingual environment, their training directly drives professional effectiveness. It enables staff to carry out their duties competently, flexibly and with an open mind.
Moreover, the Staff Regulations of European civil servants make their role indispensable:
- Proficiency in a third language is required for the first promotion.
- It is also required for contract staff in function group 4 to obtain a permanent contract.
In other words, without them, there is no prospect of career progression or contract extensions.
Unacceptable job insecurity
However, these training courses are delivered by trainers who are hired as private contractors via training companies that are selected through calls for tenders by the European institutions.
The situation facing these teachers is worrying:
• An average gross hourly rate of between €28 and €35 (sometimes €45 in Luxembourg), which covers not only the lesson itself, but also preparation time.
• No social security contributions are covered (sickness, pension or accident).
• No payment for leave.
• No compensation for periods without lessons.
Even worse, payment for hours worked is made after the 20^(th) of the following month.
These practices undermine the work of these highly qualified professionals, who contribute directly to the quality of European public services.
This situation cannot continue. We therefore demand:
In the short term
The Commission must include binding clauses in calls for tenders that guarantee fair remuneration for all work performed, including teaching, preparation and follow-up, as well as decent social provisions.
In the medium term
The Commission must integrate these teachers as permanent contract staff within an inter-institutional training body in order to:
– stabilise teaching teams
– develop modules tailored to institutional realities
– enhance the quality and consistency of language and cultural training.
In this context, we also call for the reinstatement of teachers who have left or been excluded from the service due to the poor conditions offered to them.
By supporting this call, we are defending not only our teachers, but also the quality of the European public service.
To sign the petition, please provide your surname, first name, and work email address. Sign here!