SEASONAL MIGRANT WORK IN EUROPESOME OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

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A MAP

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Working conditions (Almeria, Spain):

• 40 000 hectares of plastic greenhouses• 20 euros a day + extra hours • No payment of extra-hours/social insurance

• Growers pressures → non-recognition experience/skills

EXPLOITATION OR MODERN SLAVERY ?

Living conditions (Almeria, Spain):

• 15 in cortijos (120 € rent sometimes)• Chabolas, plastic houses• Not allowed to go out exploitation/housing place• Shantytown

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Almeria, Spain – Plastic Greenhouses

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Cortijos

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Chabolas

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A RESERVED WORKERS ARMY: FOR THE PROFIT OF

WHOM ?

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Economic purpose:

• Cheap food on markets• Competitiveness

→ Labor = 55% of direct cost (Roux 2008)

= adjustment variable

Agriculture development trend : for farmers, requirement to survive + coping with exaggerated low prices

ECONOMICAL AIMS

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Cheap and disposable labor force :

• No welfare payements

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A CHOSEN, TEMPORARY, AVAILABLE AND DISPOSABLE HIRING

Obedient and disposable labor force:

• From restrictive countries towards liberties (Maurice and Michallon 2008)

• No longer stay in the country → ex: women with children

• Temporary work agency about women:

“they are more careful with the harvest, they are less rebellious and more hard-working”

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Needed in this special work force → go-between fact development…. …. workers cooperatives, temporary working agency ….

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A NEW KIND OF ACTORS IN THE RACE FOR PROFITS ?

Canelli, Piemonte case study:

• 15 « workers cooperatives » only in one village• Led by Macedonians for day working in vineyards with Macedonians• No offices, work with cell phones, pick-up workers on car park• Delay wages• re-open with different name each year

Terra Fecundis (Spanish agency):

• More or less the same way of action … at larger scale• 2000 workers, extra and EEA nationals, for France, Italy …

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Claiming for a different way of agricultural production:

→ Based on a peasant model which recognised workers’ right and fair wages for both

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WAY OF ACTIONS ?

Involving migrant workers in unions:

• Defending their rights• Formation and informations

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Confédération Paysanne (dir.) « Agriculture industrielle et servitude en Europe » Campagne solidaire (Confédération Paysanne’s Monthly revue) Juillet 2011

Etudes rurales (2008) « Travailleurs saisonniers dans l’agriculture européenne » n°182, Editions de l’EHESS

Peasant agriculture and seasonal migrant workers (volunteers blog): http://www.agricultures-migrations.org/

Pictures:From volunteers (Cabiria Chomel, Charlotte Garda, Julie Chierichietti)

Map:Charlotte garda in « agriculture industrielle et servitude en Europe »

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