Action programme for seasonal workers in tourism

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In February 2000, France's Secretary of State for Tourism, Michelle Demessine, presented an action programme on improving the working and living conditions of seasonal workers in the tourism industry. This programme, comprised 15 measures, met with varying reaction from the social partners.

In January 1999, a report was published on improving the social and work situation of seasonal workers in the tourism industry. The study had been commissioned by the government and drawn up by Anicet Le Pors, a former minister. In the light of the report, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Michelle Demessine, presented an action programme to the cabinet on 9 February 2000, comprising some 15 measures.

The Le Pors report put the number of seasonal tourism workers at 420,000, out of a total industry workforce of 1 million. Even though there are many different categories of seasonal employees - including regularly employed, experienced workers, those with another job as well as one in tourism, and young people in their first job - all seasonal workers face the same problems:

• job insecurity, usually with no guarantee of employment from one season to the next;

• difficulty in gaining access to training, employment-related medical check-ups and having their experience recognised; and

• unsatisfactory housing conditions.

In an attempt to improve housing conditions for seasonal workers, the Secretary of State proposes to adapt housing assistance to fit employment mobility, facilitate subletting and make 6,000 housing units available over three years.

In terms of employees' employment rights, the plan, in addition to developing information on seasonal worker rights through the creation of a "seasonal worker information centre" and the distribution of a guide, provides for: the election of on-site workforce delegate s, protected by legislation against discrimination by employers on the grounds of their position; and permanent employment contracts through "intermittent work contracts", which were reintroduced under the recent 35-hour week law (FR0001137F). The plan is also designed to facilitate access to employment-related health check-ups and to enable those with several jobs to pay into a single social security fund. The plan also strengthens vocational training during the low season.

In addition, the government plans to allow different tourism companies with a total workforce of over 300 to group together as the sole employer of a pool of labour, which can be contracted out to members of the grouping.

One of the main goals of these measures is to launch a social dialogue, which has often been lacking in this sector. Both the election of employee representatives and the introduction of the intermittent work contract, subject to sectoral or company-level agreement, will according to the government, promote the consultation and negotiation process.

The trade unions, especially CGT and CFDT, were very enthusiastic about the measures. CGT called them "a major step in creating a genuine status for seasonal workers", and hoped that the proposals would be implemented as quickly as possible. However, CFDT is questioning the relevance of employer groupings and also the advantage of intermittent part-time contracts. CGT regrets that there is no mention in the plan of improving unemployment benefits for seasonal workers.

As for employers, the National Federation of Seasonal Hospitality Sectors (Fédération nationale des professions hôtelières saisonnières) spoke out against the intermittent work contract, which in its opinion will not encourage "good workers to stay in a particular job" since working time and overtime will be more strictly regulated and restricted, although, according to employers, overtime is highly sought after by seasonal workers.