The European Commission has adopted two major reports focused on improving working conditions for third-country nationals across the European Union while intensifying efforts to combat illegal employment and migrant worker exploitation.
The reports evaluate the implementation of the Employers Sanctions Directive and the Seasonal Workers Directive, both of which play a central role in the EU’s migration and labour policies.
These measures align with the EU’s January 2026 European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, which prioritizes labour mobility, worker protection, fair competition, and reducing illegal migration.
In this report:
| Key Development | Details |
| Workplace Inspections | Nearly 600,000 inspections conducted in 2024 |
| Irregular Workers Detected | Over 28,000 cases identified |
| Employer Sanctions | More than €200 million annually |
| New EU Funding | €10 million AMIF initiative launched |
| Funding Deadline | 28 August 2026 |
| Main Target Sectors | Agriculture, care, construction, transport, hospitality |
| Future Actions | Directive evaluation and expanded labour oversight |
Fight Against Illegal Employment
According to the Commission’s latest findings, EU Member States carried out nearly 600,000 inspections in high-risk industries during 2024. These inspections targeted sectors commonly associated with irregular employment, including agriculture, construction, hospitality, transport, and care services.
The inspections resulted in the identification of more than 28,000 irregularly employed migrant workers across 2023 and 2024. Financial penalties imposed on employers exceeded €200 million annually during the same period, demonstrating a stronger enforcement effort against illegal hiring practices.
However, the report also revealed that the implementation of the Employers Sanctions Directive remains inconsistent across Member States. Significant differences still exist regarding penalties, prosecutions, and convictions related to illegal employment.
The Commission additionally highlighted major gaps in data collection, especially concerning:
- Complaints filed by migrant workers
- Residence permits issued to exploited workers
- Recovery of unpaid wages and compensation
These shortcomings make it difficult to fully measure the scale of worker exploitation across the EU.
Seasonal Workers Directive
The second report assessed the Seasonal Workers Directive, which establishes legal pathways for non-EU nationals seeking temporary seasonal employment within the EU.
The Commission confirmed that the Directive has contributed to:
- Better regulation of legal migration
- Reduced undeclared work
- Improved labour rights protections
- Stronger accommodation safeguards
- Enhanced complaint and redress mechanisms
- Greater flexibility for workers to change employers
The Directive also supports equal treatment between seasonal migrant workers and EU workers, helping create fairer employment conditions.
Despite these achievements, the report concluded that several challenges remain unresolved in practice. Persistent issues include:
- Inadequate accommodation standards
- Limited access to information
- Difficulties changing employers
- Weak monitoring and enforcement systems
- Insufficient remedies for exploited workers
The Commission stressed that stronger implementation and oversight are necessary to ensure seasonal workers receive the protections guaranteed under EU law.
EU Launches €10 Million Funding Initiative
To reinforce worker protections and strengthen enforcement efforts, the European Commission has launched a €10 million funding call under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Furthermore, the initiative, officially titled: “Protecting third-country workers’ rights while fighting against illegal employment of irregularly staying third-country nationals,” will provide EU co-financing of up to 90% for approved projects.
The funding aims to support Member States in developing targeted, multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on protecting migrant workers and combating labour exploitation in high-risk sectors.
Eligible Actions Include:
| Area of Support | Purpose |
| Awareness Campaigns | Inform workers about their rights |
| Legal & Psychosocial Support | Assist exploited migrant workers |
| Complaint Mechanisms | Improve access to justice and reporting |
| Risk-Based Inspections | Strengthen workplace monitoring |
| Labour Inspectorate Training | Build enforcement capacity |
| Data Collection Systems | Improve monitoring and transparency |
| Cross-Agency Cooperation | Enhance coordination among authorities |
Applications for funding can be submitted by Member States until 28 August 2026.
European Labour Authority to Expand Oversight
As part of the planned 2026 revision of its mandate, the European Labour Authority will review how it can better address abuses involving third-country nationals, including seasonal workers and migrants employed illegally.
This move signals a broader EU effort to strengthen labour rights enforcement and improve protections for vulnerable workers across Member States.
Review of Employers Sanctions Directive
The European Commission also announced that it will launch a formal evaluation of the Employers Sanctions Directive in 2026 to determine whether the current rules remain effective and fit for purpose. In the meantime, Member States are being encouraged to:
- Fully implement the Directive
- Improve prevention and detection systems
- Strengthen cooperation between national authorities
- Appoint and empower national coordinators
- Enhance governance mechanisms
The Commission further stated that it will continue working with Member States and international partners to improve implementation of the Seasonal Workers Directive.
EU Expands Talent Partnerships with Third Countries
To create safer and more regulated migration channels, the EU plans to intensify cooperation with non-EU countries through Talent Partnerships. These partnerships aim to:
- Improve legal seasonal work opportunities
- Reduce illegal migration incentives
- Strengthen worker protections
- Support fair recruitment practices
The initiative reflects the EU’s broader strategy of balancing labour market needs with stronger migrant rights protections and enforcement against illegal employment.