Migrant workers in Spain

Priority question for written answer  P-001717/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Jeroen Lenaers (PPE)

In February 2021, near Palos De La Frontera in southern Spain, a slum where hundreds of migrant workers live was destroyed by a fire[1][2]. Those migrant workers do not have decent housing and live in appalling conditions.

Under Directive 2014/36/EU on the employment of seasonal workers, seasonal workers should have accommodation that ensures an adequate standard of living.

• 1.Does the Commission regard the housing conditions referred to above as accommodation ensuring an adequate standard of living?
• 2.Does the Commission intend to act to address and improve such living conditions for seasonal workers? The conditions in which these migrant workers live and work also create an unfair playing field in the internal market in that there is skimping on working and housing conditions, which confers a financial advantage. That allows products to be placed on the internal market at prices lower than those of competitors who do provide decent working and housing conditions for seasonal workers.
• 3.How is the Commission ensuring that there is a level playing field in the EU and that there is no competition based on the working or housing conditions of seasonal workers?

• [1] https://elpais.com/espana/2021-02-19/lo-hemos-perdido-todo-pero-antes-tampoco-teniamos-nada.html
• [2] https://nos.nl/artikel/2373386-wederopbouw-na-verwoestende-brand-krottendorp-spanje-dit-zijn-mensen-zonder-rechten.html