On Thursday, the European Commission announced its decision to bring Italy and Germany to the ECJ over policies that it deemed discriminatory against mobile workers.
Recently, programs for family allowances were instituted in both nations, with some worker groups receiving smaller amounts than others.
Benefit eligibility in Italy was based on a worker’s length of residence, which was two years or more; in Germany, however, workers’ allowances were reduced for children living in nations of the European Union with a lower cost of living.
“One of the fundamental principles of the EU is that people are treated equally without any distinction based on nationality,” stated the European Commission.
“Following this basic principle, EU mobile workers who contribute in the same way to the social security system and pay the same taxes as local workers are entitled to the same social security benefits,” according to the report.
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