During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Brussels

SCHMIT, Nicolas (LU, EC)

debate

plenary session

LENAERS, Jeroen (EPP, NL)

seasonal workers (T)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

DE SUTTER, Petra (Greens/EFA, BE)

BISCHOFF, Gabriele (S&D, DE)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

cross-border workers (T)

European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Important sectors of the European economy, in particular the agricultural and tourism sectors, require the support of seasonal workers for specific periods of the year. Seasonal workers are often vulnerable. To abuses, precarious working and living conditions, including health and safety, access to public services and decent housing. Infringement of labor law, inadequate Social Security coverage. They are also more exposed to undeclared work in particular in the form of unregistered employments. The COVID 19 pandemic rendered more visible and acute the problems that many seasonal workers have faced for longer periods.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Our data confirms that the seasonal activities are exposed to undeclared work, often associated with abuses or limited access to social rights and health and safety for workers. In this context, it is essential to raise workers and employers awareness towards the benefits of declared work and the transition to declared work. This is actually the focus of EU for Fair Work campaign of the European platform tackling undeclared work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The revision of the Social Security regulation for which the Commission made a proposal back in 2016 is still being discussed between the Parliament and Council. And I am fully committed to help you finalizing this import modernization of the rules as soon as possible. I also want to repeat my full support to the introduction of a European Social Security number requested in your draft resolution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, It is member states' responsibility to control the application of the rights and labor standards, which are also applicable to seasonal workers. In the EU-OSHA - meaning European Agency for Health and Safety at Work - published guidance addressing COVIT, 19 at the workplace, as well as the safe and healthy return to workplaces after the COVIT. This documents assist employers in dealing with health and safety aspects at work. They also refer to all relevant national guidance for specific sectors and occupations, including those that are particularly susceptible to employers, seasonal workers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, We want to achieve the same goal, ensuring that the rights of seasonal workers are protected and that the EU rules are enforced, and that the pillar of social rise applies to everybody.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), You only miss what you have once it's gone. We don't want to have external borders shut down. That's not the Europe we want. Let's cherish what we have and let's work on a genuine labor market which is cross-border in nature, where hard work is valued, where standard housing is proper and good, and where rights are being protected.

SOUNDBITE (German), Gabriele BISCHOFF (S&amp;D, DE), Yesterday in Germany, we saw more than hundreds of new infections in one of the largest meat processing companies in Germany. It's incredible that companies such as Toners haven't learned anything from this crisis and are not taking any precautions. And now they're trying to push the blame on the Romanian and Bulgarian employees. They're suggesting they brought the virus over the border. So these conditions have to be ended. And I think this resolution is a good step, but it's not enough just to have guidelines. We need strong measures. We have to improve European law with our deficiencies and we have to implement the rules that we already have. And one other point I'd like to make right now, and this is to all the cross-border workers, please: the border has been closed, but don't lose hope on having a free and fair European market based on mobility. The Parliament, it wants to achieve this.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), We've seen through the crisis that many seasonal workers also have miserable housing without the necessary sanitary facilities, there are people who have died. The social rights have been turned on their head on behalf of our group Renew, we have supported this resolution. It's a resolution that was supported very well by a majority, a large majority. What we're talking about here is the respect of the rights of the seasonal workers who should have decent housing conditions, wage conditions, and we should punish those employers that don't respect that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petra DE SUTTER (Greens/EFA, BE), These workers are in the frontline in hospitals and nursing homes. In Austria, for example, where many female health workers from Romania and Bulgaria work overtime. They provide a vital workforce. We must provide them vital social and health and safety protection. This is a matter of social justice. Thank you.