Huge number of seamstresses exploited by authorities during the COVID-19 crisis

Question for written answer  E-002071/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Manon Aubry (The Left), Anne-Sophie Pelletier (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Manuel Bompard (The Left), Emmanuel Maurel (The Left), Younous Omarjee (The Left)

The development of COVID-19 vaccines by pharmaceutical companies has been largely financed by both the Commission and the Member States, which have paid large sums of money to secure doses of these vaccines despite delivery delays. The pharmaceutical companies themselves have received preferential treatment, having been awarded confidential contracts, and have been absolved of any liability in case of side effects. Yet some are already reaping high dividends while laying off vast swathes of staff.

At the other extreme, the authorities have asked seamstresses to produce masks and gowns for free to make up for Member States’ lack of preparation, particularly in France and Belgium, which has been condemned by the ‘Bas les masques’ (Down with Masks) movement. Our public health systems have been maintained thanks to people working for free, without protection and without their know-how being acknowledged. In the Hauts-de-France region, 4 000 volunteers have produced 750 000 masks.

• 1.Is there an estimate of the extent to which public authorities have used free labour to manage the COVID-19 crisis in the European Union?
• 2.Is the use of uncontracted voluntary work contrary to EU public procurement rules?
• 3.Will the seamstresses be compensated for their unpaid work? Will their sector, which is yet another victim of the crisis, receive strong support from governments?