The Covid pandemic has boosted European social dialogue, according to a study

The social partners have therefore included in their recommendations “shadow workers” traditionally little considered, seasonal workers, but also the self-employed and migrant workers.

RFI / Pauline Gleize

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

The health crisis does not only bring its share of bad news.

The pandemic has boosted European social dialogue, which has allowed certain sectors to continue to function despite the mobility restrictions imposed by governments.

That's according to a study by the European Trade Union Institute published this week as heads of state and government meet on May 7 and 8 in Porto, Portugal, to put social issues back at the center of the game.

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With our correspondent in Brussels,

Joana Hostein

The maritime transport sector, essential since around 75% of goods arriving in Europe pass through ports, published, in March 2020, a list of recommendations to avoid a break in supply chains. This is what the study of

the European Trade Union Institute

reveals

.

The same goes for the agricultural sector. The pandemic broke out during the harvest period. However, every year, no less than 800,000 seasonal workers cross borders to come and work in the fields. Here too, the social partners mobilized very quickly, as explained by Christophe Degryse, author of the study: “ 

For the transport of seasonal workers, it will be necessary to respect the protocol in terms of social distancing, for seasonal housing, it is necessary to respect the protocol. It will also be necessary to ensure that it does not become centers of dissemination of the pandemic, etc. Sometimes it deals with extremely practical prescriptions or recommendations that are simply intended to ensure that the activity can continue. 

"

There is a time to get out of the policies that have been pursued for forty years ...

Raphaël Glucksmann, MEP, Socialist and Democrat Group in the European Parliament

Dominique baillard

The social partners have therefore included in their recommendations "

 shadow workers

", traditionally little considered, seasonal workers, but also the self-employed and migrant workers.

A more inclusive social dialogue because "

the virus hardly cares about the status of the worker,

" the report concludes.

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  • European Union

  • Coronavirus

  • Social issues