ELA launches seasonal worker campaign

In June, the the European Labour Authority (ELA) launched the awareness-raising campaign ‘Rights for all seasons’, calling attention to the need to promote fair and safe working conditions for seasonal workers employed across EU countries.

Led by the ELA alongside the European Commission, the European Platform tackling undeclared work, the EURES network, EU countries and social partners, the campaign is running between June-October this year.

It is estimated that every year, up to 850,000 EU citizens engage in seasonal work outside their country of origin. Mobile seasonal workers have the same rights to fair working conditions when working in another EU country, with the same labour and social rights as local workers.

However, given the temporary nature of their work, they can be more vulnerable to precarious working and living conditions, fraud and abuse.

According to the ELA, the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated seasonal workers’ conditions, and exposed them to increased health risks.

To address these challenges on the ground and safeguard seasonal workers’ fair working conditions, the ELA is carrying out an action plan together with the European Commission, EU Member States and social partners.

As part of this integrated action, the communication campaign 'Rights for all seasons' aims to raise the awareness of mobile seasonal workers and their employers of their rights, obligations, and of available counselling services.

“ELA was created to support EU countries and social partners in ensuring that mobile workers and employers benefit from fair working conditions across borders,' said Cosmin Boiangiu, executive director of the ELA.

'Seasonal workers are key for important sectors of our economy and their activity was particularly vulnerable to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,' he added. 'We are happy to start delivering on our mission by supporting them. EU Member States and social partners know that they can count on ELA to raise awareness on rights and obligations and to support the enforcement of EU and national legislation. Fair work is not seasonal.”