Background information

On 15 June 2021, the European Labour Authority (ELA) launched an information campaign "Rights for all seasons", addressed to seasonal workers employed abroad. Due to the temporary nature of their work, they are more exposed to precarious living and working conditions. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the conditions of seasonal workers and exposed them to increased health risks.

The campaign is conducted in cooperation with the European Commission, the EURES network, the European Platform for Undeclared Work, EU countries and social partners.

Content of measure

The ELA strategy aims to ensure that seasonal workers are adequately informed about their rights and obligations and the enforcement of EU and national laws, and to facilitate cooperation and exchange of practices between EU Member States and social partners what is especially important in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign, targeting in particular seasonal workers in the agricultural sector and, to a more limited extent, cross-border workers in the food processing sector, has 3 main objectives:

• Increasing employees' awareness of their rights and obligations and the advisory and consulting services available.
• Supporting employers in fulfilling their obligations under national and EU law and sensitizing them to the benefits of complying with them.
• Facilitating coordinated information initiatives between (home and labor clusters, administration and social partners.

Building on initiatives already introduced in various national contexts, the ELA campaign will support awareness-raising among cross-border seasonal workers and employers in the agri-food sector and will coordinate and support agreed and joint inspections of seasonal work.

Use of measure

The estimated number of seasonal workers in the EU is up to 850,000.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Cross-border commuters	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Trade unions Employers' organisations EU (Council, EC, EP)	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: EU level

Involvement

Social partners were involved through their participation in the ELA Management Board and ELA Stakeholders Group.

Views and reactions

The views of social partners are supportive since they participated in designing this measure.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 15 June 2021: Rights for All Seasons – Campaign on Seasonal Workers (www.ela.europa.eu)