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New ECR Report on Agricultural Sector Discusses Wage, Conditions and Safety at Work
The European agricultural sector is one of the most important and at the same time most in crisis sectors on the continent. Despite its crucial role in food production and land management, European agriculture faces complex and interconnected challenges that put at risk the economic and social sustainability of businesses and the safety of workers. Low wages, precarious working conditions, risks related to safety at work and a general lack of investment by the European Union are among the main problems affecting the sector. This situation is making it increasingly difficult for European agricultural companies to maintain competitiveness and quality, and is discouraging young people and new workers from entering the sector.
Michela Morizzo, CEO of Tecnè, highlighted at the ECR presentation chaired by Antonio Giordano, ECR Secretary General, how the wages of agricultural workers in Europe represent one of the most critical issues. Despite the productivity and importance of the sector, the wages offered are among the lowest in the labor market, a reality that, in the long term, leads to an increasing difficulty in finding workers willing to work in agriculture. This situation is particularly evident in Southern and Eastern European countries, where agricultural workers often earn minimum wages that do not guarantee a decent quality of life. In countries such as Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, agricultural wages are far from the standards of other sectors, making agriculture a less attractive sector. In addition, the lack of stable contracts and widespread seasonal employment often lead agricultural workers to live in a condition of economic and social uncertainty. Temporary jobs linked to the seasonality of crops often leave workers without any guarantee of long-term employment, forcing them to live periods of economic precariousness. Foreign workers, often employed in agriculture through forms of intermediation, then find themselves in a position of further vulnerability, sometimes subject to exploitation and irregular work.
Workplace safety in agriculture represents another critical issue. The agricultural sector is one of the sectors with the highest rate of accidents at work in Europe, surpassed only by the construction sector. The main risks include accidents due to the use of heavy machinery, exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers, and risks related to intense and prolonged physical activity. The combination of an often isolated working environment, a low level of mechanisation and a lack of adequate training makes the situation even worse, increasing the likelihood of serious accidents. Especially in countries with limited resources, many farms do not have up-to-date equipment or the resources to implement adequate safety measures. Poor knowledge of personal protective equipment and reduced safety measures therefore lead to a high number of accidents and, unfortunately, in some cases, even deaths. In a sector such as agriculture, which often employs migrant workers with limited knowledge of the local language and regulations, this becomes an even more serious problem, with very serious human and social consequences.
One of the main obstacles to the modernization of European agriculture is the lack of adequate investment, as highlighted by MEP Carlo Fidanza who also explains how, through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Union annually allocates funds to the agricultural sector, but the distribution of these funds is often controversial and considered inadequate. A significant part of the funds is in fact distributed based on agricultural area, favoring large companies over small and medium-sized enterprises that make up a large part of the European agricultural fabric. The lack of new investments aimed at updating technologies, promoting sustainability and improving working conditions is evident. In a context in which technological innovation is a key element in improving the efficiency and safety of agricultural work, many European farms cannot afford the costs of updating equipment. Modern machinery, safety devices and advanced cultivation technologies are expensive and, without adequate incentives, out of reach of many farmers.
Investments in training, accident prevention and advanced technology, such as robotics and automation, could significantly reduce risks for workers, improve production efficiency and make the sector more sustainable. However, the lack of specific plans to incentivise these innovations by the European Union leaves many companies in a stalemate, unable to evolve and compete on the global market. The lack of investment in the European agricultural sector has long-term consequences for the competitiveness of the sector. Non-European countries, which can count on lower production costs and higher levels of innovation, compete strongly with European agriculture on international markets, threatening European exports and putting at risk the viability of local farms. Added to this is the growing need for environmental sustainability, which would require further investments to reduce the environmental impact of crops and livestock. Furthermore, the lack of investment in training and safety creates an unattractive working environment for young people, who see agriculture as an old, tiring and poorly paid sector.
The difficulty of attracting new generations to agricultural work risks leading to a shortage of skilled workers in the near future, compromising the continuity of many family businesses and, in general, the productive capacity of the sector. It is clear that the European agricultural sector needs a review of investment policies. The European Commission should increase targeted support for agricultural businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, so that they can access new technologies and improve working conditions. Investing in innovative technologies and sustainable agricultural practices would not only increase productivity, but would also ensure a safer, more attractive and fairly paid working environment for workers. The ECR Report, and the ensuing discussion of its findings, shows how much politics must consider, in the near future, the importance of training agricultural workers to make them aware of the risks of the sector and able to correctly use modern equipment. Finally, an incentive system that allows farms to update machinery and adopt precision technologies would reduce the risk of accidents and improve the quality of work, attracting new generations and helping to make the European agricultural sector more competitive and sustainable. Greater attention from the European Union to the agricultural sector is essential to safeguard not only the future of agricultural businesses, but also the safety, dignity and quality of work of the millions of people employed in the sector.
Alessandro Fiorentino