We support migrants, refugees and mobile workers in precarious work-situations in defending their labour rights through advice and raising awareness.

Our aim is to achieve equal treatment of all residents within the realms of the law through defending access to labour rights, independent of origin and residency status.

We uncover and counteract structural problems by using our practical experience to inform public authorities, trade unions, research institutions, the press and politics.

Our services

BEMA offers individual information and advice - confidential and free of charge - as well as expertise in professional forums on labour rights.

Advice

We provide advice to migrant workers in 13 different languages. We offer support during all stages of the migration process in the area of labour rights (e.g. layoffs, unpaid wages, overtime, sick leave etc.).

Based on our longstanding experience we explain possible courses of action to our clients, calculate outstanding payments, write letters on behalf of our clients to employers and authorities and follow up on complex cases over longer periods, as required.

Since 2022, we have been offering a specialist advisory and training service for refugees from Ukraine through Hidna Pratsya.

We also offer specialised advice on questions concerning labour exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking.

Since 2026, we have been developing a new initiative designed to reach out to migrants in precarious employment via digital channels (BEMA.digital) – through this, we are expanding our presence on social media and placing greater emphasis on preventive information work.

Professional Expertise

Through our public relations work we inform media, expert audiences and policymakers. We thus contribute to efforts to reduce structural and systemic discrimination and exploitation of migrant workers.

Contact

Inquiries:
migration(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Monika Fijarczyk
Team Lead Work Rights
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 79
E-mail: fijarczyk(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Project Experts Forced Labour
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 34
E-mail: za(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Anastasiia Maksymova
Team Lead Hidna Pratsya Berlin
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 87
E-mail: maksymova(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Tobias Häußler
Project Officer BEMA.digital
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 23 
E-Mail: haeussler(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Svenja Ketelsen
Department Head Migration and Decent Work Berlin
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 72
E-mail: ketelsen(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Sophie Iwanowski
Deputy Project Manager
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 74
E-mail: iwanowski(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de

Regine Brandtner
Project Assistant
Tel.: (030) 513 01 92 69
E-mail: brandtner(at)berlin.arbeitundleben.de