Guidelines on seasonal workers in the EU in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 16 July 2020, setting out guidance aimed at ensuring the protection of seasonal workers in the European Union (EU) in the context of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Further information:

Certain sectors of the European Union's economy depend on the support of seasonal workers, coming from other EU Member States or from third countries, for specific periods of the year. While these workers enjoy a broad set of rights - which may differ depending on whether they are EU citizens or third-country nationals - the temporary nature of their work and the particular circumstances they work in results in increased precariousness in their working and living conditions. The pandemic gave more visibility to those conditions, and in some cases exacerbated them. In addition, it showed that in some cases such problems can lead to the further spreading of infectious diseases and increase the risk of coronavirus clusters.

These guidelines complement the Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak, and respond to a call of the European Parliament on the protection of cross-border and seasonal workers. These Guidelines address both EU seasonal workers and third-country seasonal workers in the EU. It was published in the Official Journal on 17 July 2020.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 16/07/2020: Coronavirus: European Commission calls for action in protecting seasonal workers https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1342

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