Today we call for a strong consideration as to the world day for decent work. The social inequality gap worldwide and even in Europe is more and more deepen, workers rights and protection is more and more questioned. 7th October is the day we can join our efforts and trigger the signal in the whole world that we are still far from having decent work for our workers.

In Europe, temporary and seasonal workers, workers on fixed-term or part-time contracts, migrant and bogus self-employed workers, subcontracted employees and clandestine workers have all become second- or even third-class employees, especially women. Many employees in the agricultural, tourism and foodstuff sectors are no longer able, due to starvation wages, to fully earn their own living through their work. They are forced to turn to social security services and government support in order to survive. Paid employment is less than ever a shield against poverty. The situation of these employees is further exacerbated by the privatisation of public infrastructure and increasing charges. Social support as a cornerstone of the European social model to ensure public maintenance is no longer universally guaranteed. These developments have had a particularly significant impact on the agriculture, food and tourism sectors.

EFFAT brought all these problems and possible solutions in one Charter on Precarious Work which will be discussed and proposed to adoption at the Congress in Berlin during 20-22 October, 2009. You can find the draft on our website: www.effat.org