Euskadi strengthens protection for seasonal workers with more controls and accommodation

On Thursday, the Basque Government approved the Sixth Comprehensive Plan of Care for Temporary Workers 2026-2030, a tool that includes new measures to improve recruitment conditions, ensure adequate accommodation and strengthen care for people involved in agricultural campaigns in the Basque Country.

"This plan continues the work that has previously been done in the organization of temporary work," said Amaia Barredo, Counsellor for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, who stressed that the aim is "to combine control, prevention, accommodation and social care so that temporary work can be carried out in the Basque Country with all guarantees."

The need to maintain and update this framework of action relates to the structural nature of the recruitment of temporary staff in certain campaigns, especially in the vintage of the Rioja Alavesa.

The plan focuses on three areas: strengthening control over recruitment and combating irregularities, increasing and improving accommodation, and strengthening care for workers.

What are the axes of the plan?

More control over recruitment and combating irregularities

Inspections will be stepped up, institutional coordination with irregular mediation networks will be strengthened, and special attention will be paid to structures that may operate covertly, and a "social footprint" is proposed for farms and enterprises that meet certain criteria of good working and social practice.

More accommodation and more guarantees

The network of municipal collective accommodation will be strengthened in order to reduce the dependence of private solutions, while maintaining support for the creation, adaptation and provision of accommodation for temporary persons, as well as the process of updating the regulations on minimum living conditions of accommodation, incorporating a specific regime of breaches and penalties.

A contingency plan will also be drawn up in the event of sudden situations which may result in the loss of accommodation of a group of workers during a campaign, with a network of alternative places previously identified.

More attention to staff

Care will be improved during the stay in the Basque Country and information on labour rights, health and prevention will be strengthened through the updating of the Reception Book, adapted to different channels and groups.

Specific protocols for the prevention of occupational risks will be established according to the type of campaign and special attention will be paid to the inclusion of women in seasonal work within the group of doubling their weight by the end of the period 2026-2030.

Consideration will also be given to the implementation of a specific recruitment programme at source in the Basque Country to facilitate the incorporation of unemployed residents into seasonal work.