Frontline regulation of transnational labor mobilities: Labor inspection and professional ethics in the construction industry

Labor inspection plays a crucial role in regulating transnational labor mobilities. Based on qualitative fieldwork including interviews and observation, this study examines inspectors’ responses to fraudulent posting and bogus self-employment arrangements in the Belgian construction sector. The findings show that enforcement practices rely on discretion and professional ethics that guide inspectors’ decisions under conditions of legal and organizational constraints. We argue that three distinct regulatory mechanisms – transactional, egalitarian and pragmatic – structure how inspectors prioritize sanctions, financial regularization and ultimately case resolution. The article highlights the role of frontline enforcement in shaping labor market regulation of transnational labor mobilities.