The Global Governance of Labour Migration and Seasonal Workers

The chapter deals with the fragmented system of international sources of law on the phenomenon of labour migration at a global level and the EU governance of seasonal and temporary migration with the scope of better defining the legal framework in force for ensuring decent work. Indeed, even if the employment is not the primary driver, most migration today is linked directly or indirectly to the search for decent work opportunities. The lack of a “mass migration” requires planning a large-scale solution because it may involve mixed flows of people (refugees and migrants) and reasons (political, economic, social, developmental, humanitarian, ecc.), especially because there is no a universally accepted definition of irregular migrant. Despite the GCM sets ambitious goals which may have a strong influence on national management of the migration phenomenon and the role played by the European Union also through the EU directives on seasonal workers, it seems that the patchwork of bilateral agreement signed between States of origin and country of destination still play an important role in regulating migration. Nonetheless it seems crucial to support the cooperative approach both at EU and international level, especially after the shock triggered by pandemic at least with the scope of improving the human rights approach as a lowest common denominator in the constellation of soft or hard regulation governing the phenomenon.