New EU law on seasonal workers could threaten wages, unions warn

Six Swedish Union Presidents argue today in an opinion piece in Svenska Dagbladet that a law drafted by the European Commission could lead to wage dumping. They note that the law, which concerns seasonal workers born outside of the EU, is unclear and should therefore be scrapped.

Currently citizens from outside the EU can work for up to three months without applying for a resident’s permit, provided that they fulfil the visa requirements. If the new European law is implemented, citizens from outside the EU would be allowed to work for a period of nine months per calendar year for a maximum period of four to five years.

The agricultural sector along with the tourism and construction sectors are likely to be the most affected, should the proposal become law.