Launching in August 2025 and running through August 2026, the Seasonal and fair employment blueprints (SaFE) project will equip EU Member States with modular blueprints and tailored technical assistance to design or enhance seasonal worker mobility programmes for non-EU nationals. SaFE will deliver practical reference tools for the agriculture and tourism sectors, with a special focus on ethical recruitment and decent living and working conditions. By addressing critical labour shortages in these key sectors and closing policy and implementation gaps, the project promotes dignified, transparent seasonal work across the EU.
Countries
*European Union
Status
Ongoing
Duration
August 2025
to
August 2026
Donors
European Commission (DG HOME) through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF)
Summary
Industries such as agriculture and horticulture and tourism are heavily reliant on non-EU seasonal workers. In 2021, an estimated 420,000 non-EU seasonal workers were employed in the EU agriculture sector, while in 2023, 9% of the tourism workforce came from outside the EU. Despite their importance, these sectors face systemic challenges that undermine fairness and sustainability. Unethical recruitment practices and poor working and living conditions perpetuate exploitation, and these challenges persist despite EU protections, including the Seasonal Workers Directive, due to weak oversight mechanisms.
This technical assistance project will support EU Member States in designing and enhancing fair and sustainable seasonal worker mobility schemes in the agriculture and horticulture and the tourism sectors. By delivering practical reference tools to help governments improve seasonal work mobility initiatives for non-EU nationals, the project promotes dignified, transparent seasonal work across the EU.