Seasonal non-EU workers entitled to better working conditions in Europe

Seasonal workers from outside the European Union who work within Europe will be entitled to better working conditions under a law passed by the European Parliament yesterday in Strasbourg.

The law, passed by 498 votes to 56 with 68 abstentions, introduce a number of binding rules to ensure seasonal workers are entitled to the same treatment as EU nationals, including the right to a minimum wage and adequate accommodation.

The law will not affect the right of member states to decide how many seasonal non-EU workers can enter their countries, which will remain the prerogative of member states.

Tighter legislation
It is estimated about 100,000 workers from outside the EU come each year for seasonal work, mostly in the catering and agricultural industries.

The move to tighten up legislation arose more than three years ago following the "Rosarno riots" in Italy, when African fruit-pickers, who had been living in cardboard shacks, protested at conditions. Following two days of violence, they were moved to immigrant detention centres in Italy.

Shootings in Greece
Speaking following yesterday's vote, British MEP Claude Moraes pointed out that, since Rosarno, there had been a number of similar incidents across Europe, including the shooting of 29 Bangladeshi strawberry pickers in Greece last April after they demanded unpaid wages.

Asian berry-pickers protested last year over conditions in Sweden, long considered one of the most liberal countries when it comes to migrants.

Under the new rules, each member state will be required to fix a maximum length of stay for non-EU seasonal workers, of between five and nine months over a 12-month period. These workers will be able to extend their contracts or change employers once within that time limit.