INTERVIEW WITH MEP CLAUDE MORAES (S&D, UK) : SEASONAL WORKERS: "WE WANT TO PUT AN END TO EXTREME ABUSE".

Quasi-unanimously, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) approved, on 14 November, an agreement with the member states on the rights of seasonal workers in the EU. The rapporteur, Claude Moraes (S&D, UK), talked to Europolitics about the draft directive (to be applied in two and a half years) establishing equal rights for nationals and foreigners.

Some 100,000 foreigners come to the EU each year for the grape harvest or to work in hospitality or tourism. What will this text change for them?

The text represents important progress. It is also the only text adopted in this field, since the other projects on low salaries and transfers of very qualified workers within companies are still blocked. It is a complex dossier, which came to the forefront after terrible scenes in Italy where seasonal workers were shamefully exploited. With this legislation, we are creating equal treatment - much of which is dependent on national laws, in particular with regard to the quality of accommodation, access to health care, security or the possibility of changing employers. We want to put an end to extreme abuse.

Which countries will the legislation impact the most?

There are seasonal workers in all EU countries. The directive applies to them all. While everyone is looking to the South of Europe, where most seasonal workers go, many also work in the North. There have also been scandals about the way they are treated in Italy, Greece, Spain and Sweden as well in other Scandinavian countries. There is no shortage of examples.

Some Northern...