Portuguese and Spanish unions take joint action to regulate migrant labour
Foilsithe: 27 October 1998
Portuguese and Spanish unions have developed joint action to deal with the forms of subcontracting and poor working conditions that Portuguese workers face when they travel to Spain to work in agriculture. The unions' proposals seek to improve regulation of the labour market, inform workers of their rights, and provide social protection. The unions also want joint action on the part of the two governments, which is due to be discussed in November 1998.
Download article in original language : PT9810103NPT.DOC
Portuguese and Spanish unions have developed joint action to deal with the forms of subcontracting and poor working conditions that Portuguese workers face when they travel to Spain to work in agriculture. The unions' proposals seek to improve regulation of the labour market, inform workers of their rights, and provide social protection. The unions also want joint action on the part of the two governments, which is due to be discussed in November 1998.
Many Portuguese workers travel to Spain for seasonal agricultural work, where they are subcontracted as temporary workers, and often the regulations governing this type of work are reportedly not complied with. Two Portuguese and Spanish trade union confederations - UGT (União Geral de Trabalhadores) from Portugal and UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores) from Spain- are seeking to guarantee the employment rights of Portuguese migrant workers in Spain through a cooperation agreement. The unions also propose an analysis of the situation of Portuguese workers in Spain's agricultural sector. The confederations will exchange information on applicable collective agreements, labour regulations, social security and other information of interest to Portuguese workers who travel to Spain. The Union of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Employees (Sindicato da Agricultura,Alimentação e Florestas, SETAA) affiliated to the Portuguese UGT, and the Federation of Land Workers (Federación de Trabajadores de la Tierra, FTT) affiliated to the Spanish UGT are particularly involved in this joint project.
The Portuguese unions will inform Portuguese workers that they should travel only if already in possession of an employment contract, in order to protect them from clandestine intermediary subcontractors. Another possibility that has been raised is creating labour exchanges that would help bring together supply and demand (PT9802167N). The Spanish unions will try to obtain the necessary human resources and materials to offer assistance to the workers and their families, particularly since child labour occurs in this context.
The two union confederations have committed themselves to seeking to increase cooperation between the two countries' governments through new measures to regulate the movements of the migrant workers. The issue will be debated in November 1998 during a meeting between the Portuguese and Spanish ministers of labour. The two UGTs discussed the issues involved in a meeting with the Portuguese minister on 6 October.
Molann Eurofound an foilsiúchán seo a lua ar an mbealach seo a leanas.
Eurofound (1998), Portuguese and Spanish unions take joint action to regulate migrant labour, article.
