EU Member States’ delegations are expected to approve without debate on Wednesday 30 September in the Committee of Permanent Representatives I (Coreper I), conclusions, which have been copied to EUROPE, on improving the working and living conditions of seasonal and mobile workers.
For example, Member States agree to increase transparency on liability in the case of subcontracting chains, to facilitate the identification of legally responsible persons and/or entities. Above all, they plan to introduce limits on subcontracting chains, certainly in reaction to the scandals that have been in the news in German and Dutch slaughterhouses (whose subcontracting arrangements were particularly difficult to monitor – see EUROPE 12496/20).
Another point: the conclusions call on Member States to work by strengthening administrative cooperation to prevent “substandard” wages and all other practices of exploitation and human trafficking, whether of seasonal or mobile workers.
Furthermore, Member States repeatedly stress the need to communicate better, if necessary with the help of the European Labour Authority, with workers on their rights and obligations, but also with the competent authorities.
Here, the question of language arose and was reportedly discussed in a working party when the conclusions were drawn up. We have been told these discussions were between Member States that proposed that it should be in several languages and those that wanted to publish their information only in their respective national languages. In the end, it was decided that communication would be in the language of the Member State or in a language which the worker could understand or which could “reasonably be supposed” to be understood by the workers concerned.
To consult the draft conclusions: https://bit.ly/3l0oyXo (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)