Seasonal Workers from Third Countries in Austria

Seasonal migration plays a crucial role in meeting labour-market needs in agriculture, tourism and other key sectors across Europe. Ensuring fair working conditions and accessible legal pathways is essential for both economic functioning and migrant protection. This study provides an overview of Austria’s experience with the admission and employment of seasonal workers from third countries since 2016. The first part of the study describes the Austrian seasonal workers model and related data. The study looks at the extent to which seasonal workers are needed to meet Austria’s labour demands. The second part describes the rights of seasonal and harvest workers, while also discussing the corresponding means of upholding and implementing these in Austria. The study finally addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the employment of seasonal workers from third countries.