Information sessions in Montana and Ruse regions for the benefit of seasonal workers

The European Labor Authority (EOT) organizes information sessions in Bulgaria aimed at Bulgarian seasonal workers in agriculture in France.

On April 24 and 25, 2024, experts from the administration of the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking (NCBCTH), as well as local commissions for combating human trafficking, will take part in them.

The aim is to improve awareness of their employment and insurance rights and related obligations, as well as about what are the risks of being involved in human trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation, with which to guarantee to a greater extent fair working conditions and to prevent situations of violated labor rights and exploitation.

The meetings will be held in five settlements in the regions of Montana and Ruse, in which large groups of residents traditionally work seasonally in France each year. Visitors will have the opportunity, in conversations with representatives of Bulgarian and French institutions and trade union organizations, to ask their questions and receive information. Interpretation will be provided during the information sessions.

About the information sessions, how they go and what are the main risks of being involved in human trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation is the conversation with Valentina Vasilenova – chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions from Agriculture, which is part of the information sessions. She made the clarification that the Trade Unions from the “Agriculture” sector of the “Support” KT also participate in these sessions..

“There are also colleagues from the French trade unions with us and that is why we have given more emphasis to France, but I must say that France is one of the good examples of relatively calm, safe and legal work in the “Agriculture” sector for seasonal work. she explained.

On the French side, representatives of the Center for European and International Social Security Relations, the Democratic Confederation of Labor of France and the General Confederation of Workers will take part.

The sessions will include the national liaison officers to the EOT for Bulgaria and France, as well as a representative of the “Information” sector of the institution.

In addition to the experts from the NKBTH administration, on the Bulgarian side the initiative will also be attended by representatives of the IA “Main Labor Inspectorate”, the National Insurance Institute, the Federation of Independent Agricultural Trade Unions – KNSB, the National Federation of Agriculture and Forestry – KT “Podkrepa” “, the town halls of the town of Vetovo, the town of Glodjevo, the village of Smirnenski, the town of Boychinovtsi and the village of Yakimovo.

The sessions will include the national liaison officers to the EOT for Bulgaria and France, as well as a representative of the “Information” sector of the institution.

In the Ruse region, the information sessions will be held on April 25 in the village of Smirnenski (from 08:30 to 10:00), in the town of Glodzhevo (from 11:30 to 13:00) and in the town of Vetovo (from 14: 30 – 16:00).

“These information sessions are part of the campaign for seasonal workers, insofar as the EOT has the task of promoting and ensuring fair mobility of EU citizens in different countries and in different sectors,” Vasillonova explained.

Bulgaria is one of the leading donors of labor in various destinations. When we talk about the “Agriculture” sector, usually the most frequently chosen countries are the southern countries – Italy, Spain, France, but also Germany and Belgium. “a large part of those working seasonally in agriculture in these host countries are from the northwestern part of Bulgaria – from Montana, Vidin, Vratsa and the northern and central part, and this is not accidental, but based on preliminary studies, the city of Ruse was chosen. she also said.

According to her, there are not enough jobs in these regions of Bulgaria, people do not have a livelihood, the state has not left them any opportunity for a normal life.

“People have no choice but to pack their suitcases and go to the bigger city outside the country. It continues to be like that and it’s really sad,” the expert pointed out.

These information sessions are very important so that before people go somewhere, to have read everything, to know that they have a contract, to be prepared – what to expect, where they will be accommodated.

“Labor migration is the most natural thing in a common market, but in order not to speculate and not to end up in exploitation, one must first inform oneself”, emphasized Valentina Vasilenova.

For more details, listen to Danail Konov’s talk.