From February 10th to 13th, 2022 an international seminar on “Unprotected workers are vulnerable people: the role of workers’ organisations in humanising work in agriculture” took place, organized by FIDESTRA (Associação para a Formação, Investigação e Desenvolvimento Social dos Trabalhadores), in cooperation with the European Center for Workers' Questions (EZA) and with financial support from the European Union.
82 representatives of workers’ organisations attended the seminar, 72 in person and 10 online. The participants were from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine (as guests).
The objectives of the seminar were:
-Identification of the situations of labor exploitation in each country, especially in the primary sector;
- Information on the measures taken at both national and European level to deal with this dramatic situation from a labour, economic and social point of view;
- Discussion of action strategies capable of minimizing labor exploitation and social exclusion that already exist and are foreseen for the coming years if no action is taken;
- Assessment of the process of social and labour market integration in Europe and changes in the European labour market and social and political changes;
- Understanding what young people think about this topic;
- Raising awareness among workers, employers, and society in general of the need to value work and rural workers.
We highlight the ideas/strengths of the debate:
Opening session: The emphasis is on the appeal to humanise work, particularly in agriculture, for building a cohesive and humanised Europe, regardless of the race and origin of each worker.
At national level we emphasise:
- that many of the immigrants are agricultural workers because it is easier to find employment there. The primary sector does not lack labour but labour is needed. The workers who come with contracts, or "service providers," are usually immigrants who have been in the country for five years or more and are helping to hire their compatriots. There are companies that recruit workers and service providers and treat them with great dignity. The problem arises when “service providers” place migrants in non-regular private companies where there is no control. Implementing certification systems which would be the best way for all workers.
- The demographic dynamics in Portugal and the challenges of immigration in the Algarve region through four defined areas: Demographic growth defined Africa/Asia vs. Europe; New migration features; urbanisation and asymmetric internal migration; Demand for enslavement of workers in Portugal. Four areas that complement each other and should be tackled together.
Through the voice of Kamal, an Indian immigrant who set up a temporary farm work company in Portugal, participants witnessed his ten years of experience in Portugal. Difficulties he faced upon arrival, from housing to job security, which led him five years ago to start a business to help other immigrants find work and integrate into the region they live in.
Representatives of the participating non-Portuguese workers' organisations explained the situation in their respective countries. France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Germany as host countries, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine as countries from which particularly large numbers of workers migrate there and work in agriculture.
In Cyprus there are private companies that escape all control of the control authorities and hire migrants by charging them large sums to work in Cyprus. All workers pay 22% of their gross salary to social security, but when they return to their country they lose this contribution
The situation of foreign workers with contracts was focused on farmers. Standards are usually met, but there are no written contracts. A temporary contract is not defined. Short-term contracts are not covered by social insurance, although there are special rules for these cases. 274,000 people do seasonal work and after some time return to their countries of origin, mostly Romania and Poland.
Workers come from outside the Community, e.g., Georgia and Ukraine, mostly come with pre-existing contracts. In the past the farmers directly hired the workers, and everything seems to be going well, but it's not. Contracts don't work because they are individual. They don't have Social Security, they don't have employment insurance, and they don't have health care. They will not be paid for the full hour/work as employers will deduct accommodation expenses.
In Germany, workers' difficulties in finding adequate housing and support in relation to laws and contracts are still a reality in some regions. But the situation is improving, workers have seasonal transportation to work, supply and demand are balanced, people have documentation. Union intervention resulted in new treaties. Legislation should, however, be better known and work better paid.
In Italy there are many workers in other sectors but few in agriculture, despite being one of the strong drivers of the economy. The pandemic hurt the sector. And the workforce in agriculture is aging, there is little interest by the offspring, so the need for young migrant workers is high.
In Spain, legal and illegal work exist side by side, there are no social benefits, the work is poorly paid, abuse of workers, especially women, is still a reality.
In Bulgaria, work in agriculture is mostly for unskilled workers, the labour law does not cover agriculture.
The participants agreed that language is the central key in the process of social and professional integration of migrants. It is necessary that immigrants receive information in their mother-tongue and have a basic knowledge of the language of the receiving country.
Working groups on civil society, trade unions and young workers' vision.
Civil society
Mechanisms and policies and implementation – Raising awareness among workers and employers and society in general of the need for decent work, particularly rural work. Situations of slave labour from the perspective of a more just society must be denounced.
Trade Unions
Trade unions are fundamental institutions of representation and participation in democratic societies.
Their representativeness and influence have diminished and union work in the rural world, particularly with immigrants, is becoming more complex and difficult. Unions must adapt to new situations while maintaining their values of solidarity and autonomy, as well as their ability to represent, demand and negotiate, and continue to act as spokespersons to defend workers' interests in all national and European bodies within the framework of social dialogue.
Summary
With its climate of peace, labour laws, wages and standard of living, Europe seduces all those who, fleeing wars, climate, hunger and unemployment, knock on our door in search of a better life, and a decent job.
On the other hand, Europe has sectors where available labour is scarce. Agriculture is one of the industries that stays active only because there are migrant workers. The agricultural sector is a pillar of the economy and a pillar of the sustainability of a society. The labour shortage in this sector is being overcome or at least compensated for by migrant workers.
However, this agricultural labour supply/demand phenomenon has been shown to be associated with a parallel labour market that encourages labour exploitation, violates human and labour rights, and in some cases reaches the contours of labour exploitation and even human trafficking.
Also noteworthy:
-the existence of legal mechanisms and national bodies dealing with this issue, with effective instruments and mechanisms.
- the need to strengthen the role of trade unions and employee organisations
- the importance of networking.
- the importance of information and communication
- the urgency of harmonising Community procedures and mechanisms, as it is unacceptable that there are still situations of labour exploitation in the European level, including labour exploitation among European citizens.