Before non-EU workers are allowed to start working in Europe, it must be clear who the employer is, even if this is a temp agency or when they work through a subcontractor. The salary and work schedule must also be clear. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the 27 EU countries reached an agreement on this in Brussels.
For non-EU employees, it is no longer just about a permit for one job in one EU country. After completing a short job, they will soon be allowed to do other (seasonal) work within the remaining period of their residence permit, but the responsibility of the employer and the housing provider must first be arranged again.
They may also apply from that EU country for a temporary permit for seasonal work in another EU country, provided it fits within their residence permit. This mainly concerns seasonal work in agriculture and horticulture, transport and logistics, and meat processing.
According to Dutch MEP Agnes Jongerius (PvdA), who co-negotiated the new regulation, labor forces from abroad are still too often brought to the Netherlands under false pretenses. “Migrant workers from third countries must explicitly have the same rights as workers from the EU.” Jongerius has therefore used the legislative change to strengthen the position of workers from countries outside the EU.
Additionally, it is now stipulated that migrant workers are not obliged to live in housing provided by the employer. “In the Netherlands, it often happens that employers deduct up to a quarter of a migrant worker’s minimum wage for accommodation – often in exchange for deplorable conditions.”
Member states must also increase controls to ensure equal rights are observed, including through inspections. “There are quite a few sectors in the Netherlands known for low wages and a high risk of abuses. Think of the transport sector, the meat industry, or the logistics sector.”