Seasonal workers Directive

EU economies face a structural need for seasonal work, which is not entirely met by EU workers. While the EU needs to address its labour shortages of seasonal workers, there is also evidence that non-EU seasonal workers are often in vulnerable working or living conditions.

These elements led the European Parliament and the Council to adopt, on 26 February 2014, the Seasonal workers Directive.

Legal framework

The Seasonal workers Directive sets the conditions of entry and stay of non-EU nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.

More information on the key provisions of the Directive is available in the Summary of EU legislation – Seasonal workers Directive.

The Commission prepared a Communication with Guidelines on seasonal workers in the EU in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. These highlighted the particular vulnerability of seasonal workers and the rights of seasonal workers concerning their working and living conditions. The Commission underlined how the living and housing conditions of seasonal workers are closely linked to their work and that monitoring of working should in so far also concern accommodation.

Objectives

• Ensure fair and transparent rules for admission of non-EU seasonal workers;
• Ensure decent working and living conditions and equal rights for those workers;
• Prevent that non-EU seasonal workers stay/work in the EU without authorisation;
• Make it easier for those workers to come back for seasonal work in the EU in following years.