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"<< Background >>BackgroundIn European agriculture, millions of seasonal workers are on the move every year from their home country to the country of employment - mainly in the summer months. Here, their labor is needed to cover the demand for workers in seasonal peaks of planting and harvesting activities. They have little knowledge of labor laws and tariffs or regulations regarding social security and occupational health and safety in the host country. They mostly do not speak the language and there are very frequent violations of workers' rights.A core task of the European agricultural trade unions and of their umbrella organization EFFAT (European Federation for Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions) is to stand up for the rights of these workers. This is done by outreach informational campaigns and advisory work by trade union secretaries, advisors and volunteers. Experiences and reports, both at national and European level, show that there is a high demand for advice among migrant workers in all sectors, and that there is a desire on the part of the workers for educational offers and information in their mother tongue.Public reactions also show how great the need for support is for migrant workers. Not a week goes by without multiple reports in the press, radio and television about the untenable conditions in some companies. The EU Commission has recognized that the knowledge and rights of migrant workers need to be strengthened. Thus, it has strengthened the rights for seasonal workers in the Seasonal Workers Directive (Directive 2014/36/EU). In Germany the reform of the Posting of Workers Directive has led to the legal consolidation of counseling and information offices for migrant workers.Thus, the national trade unions have been carrying out information counseling and training activities for years with the cooperation of EFFAT. Experience and reports at both national and European level show that there is both a high demand for advice among migrant workers in all sectors and a desire on the part of employees for educational offers and information in their native language.<< Objectives >>ObjectivesThe selected Strategic Cooperation Partnership for the AgriWork-crossborder project consists of three trade unions, one European umbrella organization, and four trade union-related consulting institutions. In addition, organizations relevant for the implementation will be involved in the project as associated partners.The different trade union or trade union-related support and consulting structures have different (digital) strategies and methods to consult and train migrant workers. These instruments and tools will be presented transnationally, discussed, transferred and processed for digital application in an advisory manual within the framework of the project. The activities necessary for this are Transnational Meetings of the Strategic Partnership, five Thematic Online Seminars and two trainings based on the strategies laid down in the digital manual.The main topics that have emerged as relevant for the advisory work and are in some cases existential for the seasonal workers are:-Digital information and advice-Working conditions -Occupational Health and Safety-Labor and social law-Discrimination and sexual violenceThese topics will be presented, trained and documented in the digital manual through the use of innovative methods, strategies and products, such as multilingual apps and video clips, digital outreach strategies, field campaigns or counseling and training in home countries. The manual will be freely available on all partner websites.The goal is to empower individual multipliers (counselors and union staff) and increase the efficiency of their counseling work by participating in the activities and using the new training materials. They are trained in terms of content, methodology and digital technology and are part of an expanded information network with partners in various European sending and receiving countries. Along with this, seasonal workers, as an indirect target group will receive more efficient guidance through the use of new innovative methods and tools already tested in other countries. In particular, the use of digital information and guidance tools such as apps (e.g. AgriworkerApp), but also information via socialMedia channels and websites, will lead to greater digital literacy and improved participation. The workers are well informed and can better protect themselves and their workforce.To achieve the project goals, it is important to involve union members, but also one or two seasonal workers in the project activities. The project should benefit from their practical experience. Because this group of people speaks little English, corresponding costs are planned here.<< Implementation >>ImplementationThree different types of activities are foreseen in the project.1.Transnational meetings5 transnational meetings are foreseen, each of which will be attended by 1-3 representatives of all partner organizations. In addition, regional/national experts and participants from the respective associated partners will be invited. These meetings serve to coordinate the overall planning with the partners, to define and discuss common and individual tasks, to prepare the Thematic Online Seminars, and in the further course of the project to prepare the two trainings. They also serve to review the status of the project (in terms of content and finances) and to agree on the next steps. But also to build up and strengthen the networks, as well as the know-how transfer. 2. Thematic Online SeminarsThe 5 Thematic Online Seminars are focused on a specific topic such as ""Occupational Health and Safety"" or ""Discrimination and Sexual violence"". Different strategies and good practices are presented on this topic and discussed with experts. The results are incorporated into the manual. 3.TrainingsIn these 2 trainings, each lasting two days, the methods and strategies already tested by the partners are tested in a transnational group of multipliers and consultants. The participants are from countries of origin as well as from countries of employment of Mobil workers.The methods are presented and applied with different methods. In this way, the participants can broaden their range of work, train other ways of counseling and information, or exchange information about them. In this way, further work with seasonal workers can be improved, nationally and at the EU level.<< Results >>ResultsA major product and outcome will be the multilingual digital advisor manual with good practices, methods and strategies on the following main topics:- Digital information and advice- Working conditions - Occupational health and safety / under climate change conditions- Labor and social law- Discrimination and sexual violenceWith the development of the digital manual, the participation in the Thematic Online Seminars and the trainings based on the advisor manual, the participants will gain practical experience in intercultural counseling and education work, especially with regard to the access of educationally disadvantaged groups. The result will be a significant improvement in their activities and strengthening of digital skills.Along with this, the seasonal workers, as an indirect target group, will receive more efficient counseling and improved access to digital information media. Thus, they will be better informed and will be able to better Another outcome will be the strengthening and expansion of the European and national networks. The associated partners and other involved organizations, such as OSH authorities, social security institutions and other NGOs working in the field, will rely on a strengthened and trained network.The European networking is improved and can thus make labor rights violations visible - from the sending country to the country of employment and the individual company. Thus publicity is created and better compliance with labor rights and social standards can be ensured."
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