B4-0531 and 0552/94

Resolution on the social situation of agricultural workers in the EU

The European Parliament,

-having regard to Article 39(1) of the EC Treaty, which seeks to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community,

-having regard to Article 117 of the Treaty, on the improvement of working conditions and standards of living,

-having regard to the Community Charter on Fundamental Social Rights,

-having regard to Articles 2 and 4 of the Council of Europe's Social Charter ensuring the right to just conditions of work and the right to fair remuneration,

-having regard to the Commission opinion on an equitable wage SEC(91)2116,

A.whereas evidence shows that low pay is associated with poverty in the Member States,

B.whereas the requirement of a fair standard of living must also apply to family members working on farms and to employees,

C.whereas an unsatisfactory trend in farm profits will inevitably affect the incomes of employees,

D.whereas decent agricultural wages are central to the cohesion and survival of rural communities in the European Union,

E.concerned that existing pay for agricultural workers in many Member States falls below the Council of Europe's decency threshold,

F.alarmed that the Government of the United Kingdom is considering the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Boards, which set a minimum wage and minimum working conditions for agricultural workers and influence the pay and conditions of other workers in rural areas,

G.whereas approximately 300 000 European farms lose their independence every year as a result of structural changes in agriculture, blurring the distinctions between small farmers, part-time farmers and agricultural workers,

1.Calls on the Commission to draw up a report on trends in farm incomes, containing separate information on the self-employed and employees in farming in the individual Member States of the Union;

2.Hopes that farm workers' wages will keep pace with changes in wages outside farming, in order to ensure that properly trained farm workers continue to be available in future;

3.Calls on the Commission and Council to respond to the numerous proposals by the European Parliament aimed at maintaining an efficient agricultural sector, in order to ensure the continued existence of an adequate agricultural basis which will guarantee decent wages;

4.Calls upon the Government of the United Kingdom to reverse its decision to denounce the International Labour Organisation Conventions 99 and 100;

5.Demands that the Commission remind the governments of the Member States of the European Union of their obligations under the Treaty;

6.Calls further on the governments of the Member States to defend living and working standards, the rights of workers, acquired rights and wage levels in rural communities;

7.Calls on the Member States to make full use of programmes launched and cofinanced by the European Union, inter alia to assist and train farm workers;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom.