‘Seasonal work with EURES’ campaign launches

Why seasonal work?

Seasonal work is very important for the EU economy, particularly in sectors like agriculture, tourism, hospitality and construction. Each year, up to 850,000 EU citizens move to another Member State to do seasonal work, but many jobseekers and employers are unsure of their rights and obligations.

This is where our campaign comes in – we want to help you find the information you need and understand how EURES can support you in your seasonal job searches or recruitment processes, especially in the difficult context of COVID-19.

This campaign is part of the broader ‘Rights for all seasons’ campaign being run by the European Labour Authority (ELA). Watch the promotional video here.

Jobseekers: What to look out for

If you are a jobseeker, there are many good reasons to consider seasonal work. There are always seasonal job opportunities available across Europe and these jobs are a flexible way to learn new skills, earn money and spend time abroad, without a long-term commitment.

What you may not know is that as a seasonal worker, you also have a broad set of rights when it comes pay, working hours, health and safety, and more. Throughout the campaign we will be sharing lots more useful information to help you understand your rights and how to recognise bogus job advertisements, disinformation and fraud.

Remember that you can also contact your local EURES Adviser to get guidance and support with finding opportunities. There may still be time to find seasonal opportunities for the summer season, so we would encourage you to start looking today.

Employers: What to look out for

As an employer, recruiting seasonal workers from abroad can help you secure the staff you need during peak seasons. This is especially important if your staffing needs vary throughout the year, or if you have a shortage of suitable candidates in your own country.

During the campaign, EURES will be sharing information to help you understand your rights and obligations as a seasonal employer. This will ensure you can take full advantage of seasonal recruitment, while also understanding the responsibilities you have towards the staff you hire, especially in the context of COVID-19.

If you are interested in recruiting seasonal workers, you can contact a EURES Adviser to ask questions and get support with administrative aspects.

Follow the campaign for more updates

Throughout the summer, we will be posting about seasonal work on the central EURES Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram channels using the hashtags #EURESeasonalWorks and #Rights4AllSeasons. Make sure you follow our channels, interact with our posts, and share them with others who may find them interesting or helpful.

Most services across the EURES network are also active on their own social media channels. We encourage you to follow the pages of your national or regional EURES services who will be sharing specific information about seasonal work in your country or region.

We will also be organising a Week of Action for the campaign 20-24 September. Many activities will be organised across Europe during this period in particular, so keep an eye out for further updates!

Related links:

ELA: ‘Rights for all seasons’ campaign

EURES on Facebook: Campaign video

8 reasons you should consider seasonal work

Four things you should know about seasonal work in 2021

Search for EURES Advisers

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