WRITTEN QUESTION E-0466/03 by Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission. Working conditions of employees in the flower industry.
Date: 2003-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, EU relations, Latin America, cooperation policy, floriculture, generalised preferences, humanisation of work, social clause, trade agreement (EU), working conditions

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

(2004/C 65 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0466/03

by Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Working conditions of employees in the flower industry

(20 February 2003)

Europe is still the largest market for cut flowers, in particular from Latin America and Africa. Employees in
the flower sector work for extremely low wages with insecure employment contracts, frequently without
appropriate protective clothing as a precaution against poisoning by pesticides and other serious health
hazards. The first successes of the campaign for better working conditions (cid:1) e.g. the use of appropriate
protective clothing for women (cid:1) are being seen in Ecuador, while in other countries paid maternity leave
exists. However, these remain the exception.

1.
In the light of this situation, does the Commission consider that adequate progress has been made,
with the application of the revised EU Generalised System of Preferences as an incentive to the protection
of social rights, towards respect for fundamental working standards and/or is it planning further measures
in the context of trade and cooperation agreements with a view to improving working conditions for
employees in the flower industry?

2. What other instruments is the Union using to help achieve better working and health conditions?

To what extent

3.
the grant of development cooperation
appropriations, not only in general to improve working conditions, but in particular to eliminate the
poor conditions for flower workers?

the Commission making use of

is

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

1.
Central American and Andean countries have become highly specialised in exporting products of
Sector V (trees, plants and cut flowers) under the Community’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
and particularly under its ‘special arrangements to combat drug production and trafficking (drugs regime)’.
As a result of this and in line with agreed EU rules related to GSP, it is proposed to graduate countries
such as Costa Rica and Colombia out of the GSP scheme for this sector.

The ‘drugs regime’ is meant to assist the beneficiary countries in their struggle to combat illicit productions
by providing them with export opportunities for substitution crops. This may also improve their
sustainable development by fostering environmental protection and the respect of fundamental social
rights.

The Commission monitors each beneficiary country’s efforts in combating drug production and trafficking.
In addition, it is also called upon to evaluate each country’s social development, in particular the respect
and promotion of core labour standards, as well as its environmental policy. The Commission informs
each beneficiary country of its evaluation and invites it to comment. It will also take into account the
results of this evaluation when establishing guidelines for a scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the
decade 2005-2014. Thus, the drug regime establishes a dialogue with the beneficiary countries, providing
the Union with the possibility to stress the importance of sustainable development and the need to respect
its principles.

In this context, it is only at the end of the current GSP Regulation (i.e. 31 December 2004), that it will be
possible to fully assess the progress made by these countries in the protection of labour standards,
particularly in sectors such as the flower industry.

As regards bilateral agreements, the Commission communication ‘Promoting Core Labour Standards and
Improving Social Governance in the Context of Globalisation’ (1), suggested inclusion of core labour
standards as an integral element, thus following the approach taken in the EC-ACP Partnership Agreement
with the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (the Cotonou Agreement). Specifically, the agreement
between the European Union and Chile signed in November 2002 includes a special section (Title V) on

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cooperation in social matters. The latter spells out commitments to promoting fundamental labour rights,
taking into account the rules of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It sets out among priority
measures for cooperation in particular (Article 44): promoting human development, the reduction of
poverty and the fight against social exclusion; developing and modernising labour relations, working
conditions, social welfare and employment security; giving priority to education and training programmes
aimed at vulnerable social groups. The agreement with Chile will in this respect serve as a model in
current negotiations with Mercosur.

Moreover core labour standards are part of the human rights clause, which forms part of bilateral
co-operation agreements. In its Communication on The European Union’s Role in Promoting Human
Rights and Democratisation (2), the Commission proposed as part of the political dialogue discussing with
partner countries how ratification of the fundamental human rights instruments and other rights-based
international agreements (in particular ILO conventions) and their effective implementation could be
pursued. The Commission believes that respect for social rights and core labour standards contribute to
durable and equitable social and economic development.

2.
In its communication, the Commission presented a comprehensive strategy, suggesting action at
European and international levels, by public and private actors alike, and in all relevant policies: social,
external relations, development and trade. The Community strategy aims to create incentives and build
capacity for countries to implement and respect core labour standards globally and in all sectors of the
economy, including the flower trade in Latin America and Africa.

A concrete step has been the adoption by the Council of a revised generalised system of preferences (GSP)
scheme. The social incentive scheme (cid:1) which grants additional preferences to countries that respect the
core labour standards (cid:1) was improved and the basis for temporary withdrawal of the general preferences
was extended to cover grave and serious infringement of all ILO core conventions, including those related
to child labour.

No specific initiatives are in place in the development and co-operation framework to improve

3.
working conditions for flower workers.

However in general terms, the Commission communication on core labour standards suggested increased
funding from bilateral sources and ILO technical assistance programmes for the promotion of core labour
standards. Funding has been allocated under the European initiative for Democracy and Human Rights
(Chapter B7-7 of the EU budget) for projects tackling the issue of trafficking, child labour and slavery. Such
support complements the assistance channelled through country-specific programmes,
in which social
development and labour standards are integral elements.

(1) COM(2001) 416 final.
(2) COM(2001) 252 final.

(2004/C 65 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0475/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Fraud-sensitive electronic payments as a result of the possibility of criminals to emptying bank

accounts

Is the Commission aware that criminals are constantly finding new ways of obtaining access to the

1.
secret PIN codes of bank account holders, for instance by:

(a)

stealing bank cards and threatening the victims with further violence if they do not disclose their PIN
codes;