WRITTEN QUESTION E-1837/98

by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: Women from the Community working in third countries

Important organizations with a worldwide reputation such as Amnesty International and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have been reporting cases of female workers from the Community being subjected to abuse and even torture in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where there are particularly serious and frequent instances of women being subjected to sexual harassment sanctioned by the law of the country.

The vulnerability of female migrant workers is widely recognized and their rights must be safeguarded.

1. What measures has the Commission taken to guarantee protection for workers' rights, in particular the rights of female migrant workers from the EU in third countries?

2. Is the Commission aware that in countries such as Saudi Arabia the situation is becoming increasingly serious?

3. What steps will the Commission take to tackle this situation, in particular as regards Saudi Arabia?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 1998)

1. The Commission follows with concern developments in the human rights situation including the rights of immigrant workers in Saudi Arabia and countries of the Gulf cooperation council (GCC).

2. The protection of Member States' citizens is a matter of bilateral consular competence. The Community does not have any bilateral contractual agreement with Saudi Arabia. However, in parallel with the cooperation agreement between the Community and the six GCC countries a political dialogue takes place both at ministerial and senior official level. In this context, questions concerning human rights and democracy are raised by the European side.

3. Under its scheme of generalized tariff preferences (GSP), from which Saudi Arabia benefits, the Community encourages the respect of certain labour rights concerning workers in general including women. Pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) 1154/98 of 25 May 1998 applying the special incentive arrangements concerning labour rights and environmental protection provided for in Articles 7 and 8 of Regulations (EC) 3281/94 and (EC) 1256/96 applying multiannual schemes of generalised tariff preferences in respect of certain industrial and agricultural products originating in developing countries(1), additional preferences may be granted to beneficiary countries which apply effectively the standards set by the International labour organization Conventions No 87 and No 98 concerning the right to organise and to bargain collectively and No 138 concerning the minimum age of admission to employment. Furthermore, in case of unacceptable practices like forced labour(2), brought to the attention of the Commission by way of a formal and precisely documented complaint, the benefit of the GSP can be withdrawn temporarily from the beneficiary country where such practices exist.

(1) OJ L 160, 4.6.1998.

(2) Article 9 of Council Regulations (EC) 3281/94 and (EC) 1256/96 applying a multiannual scheme of generalized tariff preferences to certain industrial and agricultural products respectively (OJ L 348, 31.12.1994. and OJ L 160, 29.6.1996.