Project description
Improving conditions of migrant farm workers
The EU agricultural sector is heavily dependent on immigrant workers; most seasonal workers are irregular. The unprotected status of these workers is problematic – they work long hours in dangerous condition for low wages. With this in mind, the EU-funded DignityFIRM project will contribute to improving conditions of irregular migrants working in farm to fork (F2F) labour markets in four EU Member States (Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland) and two associated countries (Morocco and Ukraine). The project will analyse the regulatory infrastructures that govern these conditions, distinguishing influential spheres of stakeholders at EU, national and local levels, as well as at employer level. The goal is to provide innovative tools to improve regulatory infrastructures.
Objective
DignityFIRM contributes to improving conditions of irregular migrants (IM) working in Farm to Fork (F2F) labour markets in four EU member states (IT, NL, PL, SP) and two associated countries (MO, UA). To derive structural recommendations for improvements, we analyze regulatory infrastructures that govern these conditions distinguishing five influential spheres of stakeholders at the EU, national, and local levels, and at the level of employers and IM themselves. The focus on IM in F2F labour markets is timely given the instrumental role of these industries in securing EU livelihoods, the high systemic dependency on IM that coincides with persistent group vulnerabilities. By providing knowledge and innovative tools to improve regulatory infrastructures, this project enhances IM’s access to basic rights and services, and improves their precarious working conditions. Doing so, we contribute to systemic resilience of F2F industries and the EU’s ambitions for social and economic transformation.
Our project adopts a mixed-method research approach, that includes a special focus on the division of labour in F2F markets with respect to gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, health and safety. Doing so, we provide new knowledge on 1) the multidimensional regulatory infrastructure and the conditions of IM therein, 2) their access to basic rights and social services, and 3) employer reliance on IMs. We build on our analysis of the current situation, and work towards innovative solutions by developing Dignity tools in co-creation with stakeholders across the five stakeholder spheres. We propose group sensitive policy measures at EU, national, and local level, across four policy domains: migration management, EU pillar social rights, labour market sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Doing so, we create a pathway for impact towards upholding IMs’ access to rights and services and simultaneously addressing labour market needs and wellbeing of host communities.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands