Assignment

In cross-border labor mobility, an assignment refers to a temporary situation where the employee

• moves abroad to carry out work there (this is a physical assignment: moving people to work)

or

• receives work to carry out remotely from where the employer is located (this is a virtual assignment: moving work to people).

  
  

The work performed by the employee is, by definition, temporary in nature from the outset. This fundamental characteristic distinguishes assignments from permanent relocation or emigration scenarios.

If the situation cannot be defined as temporary, it cannot be defined as an assignment. In that case, the national law of the countries involved applies. This does not fall within the scope of this chapter.

Note: Business trips are also considered assignments.