Published on : 18 March 20203 min reading time
Social dumping is a scourge that affects different areas and the agricultural sector has not escaped it. It has significant repercussions that are fuelling the agricultural crisis that is already raging in Europe. What does social dumping have to do with this crisis? Find out in the next few lines.
Social Dumping : Definition
Social dumping in the agricultural crisis means finding cheap labour elsewhere. This is a practice that has become commonplace in the agricultural sector, as companies working in agriculture are always looking for the best profit margin. It is fuelling the agricultural crisis that is already raging, as the local market is often disadvantaged.
Indeed, businesses are abandoning local workers by subcontracting work. Moreover, the latter cannot match the same tariffs because the cost of living is lower in the countries concerned.
It can also be said that this practice consists of putting money before human beings. Indeed, the agricultural crisis is the result of a poor balance between available jobs and qualified people. Companies are therefore turning a blind eye to helping workers earn a living in order to put their financial gains first.
Consequences
The main consequence of social dumping in the agricultural crisis is the rise in unemployment. Every year, many people decide to embark on a career in agriculture. However, the majority will not find employment in the sector, as they will be subject to unfair competition with workers who charge very low prices.
Moreover, these low prices have repercussions on the quality of the products obtained. The reason is that external workers are not necessarily more qualified than local workers. Often, the product will pass the threshold of acceptability without achieving excellence.
In some cases of social dumping, the local market is abandoned altogether. The reason is that the production itself is relocated. The consequence of this is that the funds only partially succeed in integrating the local economy, leading to the agricultural crisis.
Potential solutions
In order to avoid social dumping, it is important to raise awareness among companies. It is important to make them aware of their role in the economy at the agricultural level. Moreover, this action plan must be supported by various aids in order to motivate them. For example, this can be done by reducing various taxes in order to increase their profit margin without affecting local workers.
Moreover, establishing government regulations on this subject is also essential. In a context where the agricultural crisis is raging, it is the government’s duty to ensure that equity between businesses and workers is maintained. For example, this can be done by establishing a threshold for the externalization of work.