The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will launch a new study soon to collect data regarding social protection of seasonal workers in EU countries’ agri-food sectors after COVID-19.
The EESC appreciates that farming is often a seasonal activity, with production peaks at certain times of the year. For these peaks, the EU agricultural sector (especially fruit and vegetables) is often dependent on a seasonal workforce, mainly from a nonnational labour force including other parts of the EU and third countries. Numerous seasonal workers are employed under short-term contracts, not always with full job security or social security coverage. These workers can be more vulnerable to precarious working and living conditions, fraud, or abuse. You can email the EESC (studies-eesc@eesc.europa.eu) for more information about how this study will help inform social protection in the EU of agri-food sector seasonal workers.
