Local and regional leaders call for fairer labour standards in agriculture

Regions and cities want better implementation of social conditionality in access to EU funds to ensure fair working conditions for agricultural workers.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 20 November adopted an opinion on 'Fair working conditions in agriculture: the local and regional perspective', led by Karine Gloanec-Maurin, First Deputy Mayor of Couëtron au Perche, calling for strengthened labour protections and improved working conditions for Europe's agricultural workforce.

The opinion is a response to critical challenges facing the agricultural sector, including declining family farms, growing reliance on migrant workers, and increasing labour shortages. The agricultural workforce is expected to shrink by 2% each year, dropping from 17 million workers in 2020 to just 7.7 million in 2030.

In the opinion, local and regional leaders emphasise the need to better implement the social conditionality within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) across all agricultural sectors, to ensure fair working standards across the EU. Harmonised penalties for labour law violations would help prevent unfair competition and create equitable conditions for all workers, they argue.

They further highlight the importance of improving health and safety standards in agriculture, one of the EU's most dangerous sectors. The opinion stresses the need for stricter safety measures, particularly around the handling of hazardous substances like pesticides, enhanced training, preventive measures, and a transition towards sustainable farming practices.

Recognising that migration related to agricultural work creates specific challenges and opportunities for non-EU nationals and host communities, regions and cities call for greater support for rural communities with relevant resources and infrastructure. The CoR also urges the EU to adopt international conventions that protect migrant workers and to monitor labour conditions in subcontracting chains to prevent abuses or practices like 'social dumping'. Independent bodies for labour violations reporting, combined with increased labour rights awareness and trade union support, would ensure that all agricultural workers, including women, minority groups, and individuals with disabilities, are adequately represented and protected.

Lastly, local and regional representatives advocate for EU-level investments in more comprehensive data collection on working conditions, which would help policymakers better understand and address ongoing challenges in the sector.

Quote

Rapporteur Karine GLOANEC-MAURIN (FR/PES), First Deputy Mayor of Couëtron au Perche: "As a member of the European Committee of the Regions, I strongly support fair treatment for all agricultural workers. We aim to enforce 'social conditionality' more effectively to ensure decent working conditions, address labour shortages and prevent unfair competition between regions based on exploitation. It is essential to improve health and safety standards, support rural communities, and promote the inclusion of women, migrants, and workers with disabilities."

Background

During his confirmation hearing at the European Parliament on 4 November, European Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen emphasised the importance of treating agricultural workers with the same high standards applied in other sectors. The Commissioner-designate advocated for improved oversight by national labour authorities, noting a need to address gaps in enforcement to protect workers' rights effectively. Additionally, he highlighted social conditionality in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as essential. Recognising the mental-health challenges in rural communities, especially for farmers, the Commissioner-designate called for mental-health awareness and stress-management training for agricultural workers, as access to these services remains limited in rural areas.

The CoR adopted an opinion on 'The Future of the Common Agricultural Policy' in June 2024.

Webstreaming and photos of the Plenary session.

Contact

Hélène Dressen
+32 473332508
[email protected]