Legal and Social Protection for Cross-Border and Seasonal Workers in Europe During Times of Global Instability

Abstract

The process of globalization has led to a significant increase in international migration, which is one of the main drivers of political, economic, social, and demographic transformations worldwide. The decision to migrate is based primarily on economic considerations, but the choice of destination country is increasingly influenced by personal factors and existing social networks, which play a decisive role in shaping contemporary migration routes.

Currently, nearly all countries in the world are involved, in one way or another, in the phenomenon of international labor migration, which generates multiple legal, social, and institutional challenges for both countries of origin and countries of destination. Within the European Union, the issue of protecting the rights of migrant workers, particularly cross-border and seasonal workers, takes on special relevance, especially during periods marked by global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, or other exceptional situations with transnational impact.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the legal and social protection mechanisms applicable to migrant workers in the context of the pandemic and other global crises, with an emphasis on the measures adopted by European Union states to strengthen the social guarantees granted to them. The study of general methods of scientific research, such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction and forecasting, as well as the specific methods of legal sciences, including the historical, formal-legal, structural and functional method.

The research results highlight the main policies and normative instruments developed at the European level to protect cross-border and seasonal workers in times of crisis, as well as the need to strengthen the institutional and legislative framework in this matter. The article provides a narrative analysis of the social guarantees applicable to these categories of workers and may constitute a relevant benchmark for research in international labor law, social policy, migration studies and labor economics.