Europe numbers one million agricultural employers who provide work to over 7 million workers. With 15 million farm holdings, in which over 40 million people work, the agriculture sector makes a vital contribution to healthy nutrition, and still plays a key role in the economic, environmental and social policies in Europe. EFFAT activities in the agriculture sector include promoting a sustainable Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), safeguarding employment and fair pay in rural areas, and further developing social dialogue in order to improve working conditions in this sector.
Agriculture
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Italy: New legislation passed to curb gang master practices27/10/2016Italy has taken a crucial step to crack down on the widespread exploitation of farm workers through the “Caporalato system” (Gangmasters), a widespread phenomenon characterised by a lack of contractual protection, exploitative working hours, harsh treatment and deplorable housing and working... -
Social justice instead of boundless liberalisation – towards a sustainable EU trade policy19/09/2016On 15 September 2016 in Brussels at the civil dialogue group meeting on “International aspects of agricultural policy”, a delegation of agricultural worker unions affiliated to EFFAT highlighted the threats to jobs for agricultural workers and the dismantling of social protection caused by EU trade... -
The exploitation of migrant workers in agriculture. What responsibility for CAP?15/06/2016On 15 June 2016, a high-level conference took place in Rome, organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) with the support of the three Italian unions CGIL, CISL and UIL and the participation of trade unionists from 22 countries. The meeting was attended by the European Commission,... -
GET RID OF GLYPHOSATE!03/06/2016Brussels, 3 June 2016: After postponing its decision twice, the European Union scheduled a new meeting of the Standing Committee on Plant protection products next Monday, on June 6 2016, to advice on the approval of glyphosate. EU Member states should try to reach a qualified majority for the... -
CAP: what role for workers?31/05/2016The Common Agricultural Policy was reformed in 2014. The following discussions mainly focused on the environmental aspects of agriculture. As trade unions we worry that nothig has been done to improve the social aspect this policy framework.As agricultural workers often work in precarious... -
Trade Unions back new Undeclared Work Platform26/05/2016The launch of the European Commission’s ‘Undeclared Work Platform’ on Friday 27 May is a long overdue initiative to tackle the exploitation of workers and unfair competition for law-abiding employers says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). It is estimated that up to 20% of...
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Project results: Farmers' access to education and training activities30/09/2013EFFAT, together with its partners FNSZ (Bulgaria), IG BAU (Germany), ALPA (Italy), GFE CGC Agro (France), and Agrostar Federation (Romania), and with support from the European Commission, is pleased to present the project "Farmers' access to education and training activities".The general objective... -
Common declaration of the European social partners in agriculture at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of social dialogue in Europe19/09/2013
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Social partners' involvement in the post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy - a proactive approach for employment growth17/09/2013Social partners' engagement with the post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy - a proactive approach for employment growth - publication published within the framework of the EU supported project VS/2012/0410
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The 2013 reform of the Common Agricutural Policy will not improve the situation of agricultural workers16/09/2013
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Illegal work - in reality, nobody is benefitting15/09/2013Presentation of EFFAT Agriculture Sector on the fight against illegal work and its action plan against illegal work in European agriculture, within the framework of a EU supported project on Common Agricultural Policy and Employment
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Study: Western Balkan Agribusiness and Agro-Industrial Strategies, Policies and Priorities03/09/2013EFFAT and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Regional Project for Labour Relations and Social Dialogue in South East Europe are pleased to present the study Agribusiness and Agro-Industrial Strategies, Policies and Priorities for Achieving Higher Competitiveness, Employability and Sustainability in the...
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EFFAT is the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions. As a European Trade Union Federation representing 120 national trade unions from 35 European countries, EFFAT defends the interests of more than 22 million workers towards the European Institutions, European employers’ associations and transnational companies. EFFAT is a member of the ETUC and the European regional organisation of the IUF.