Abstract
Seasonal workers are relevant for the agricultural industry, which relies significantly on temporary workforce in particular phases of its operations and supply chain. Most of these workers are migrants that travel from their home countries and work under precarious conditions and uncertain regulations. Particularly, Lleida’s (Spain) fruit sector, which is one of the biggest agricultural industries in Europe, demands thousands of seasonal workers every year to harvest and pack the product. These workers have historically suffered from a lack of appropriate temporary housing, low salaries, and long working hours. Yet their relevance is acknowledged by the industry, seasonal workers are often subject to exploitative working conditions, which go beyond their job and regard other issues, such as housing, and social refusal. Through a multiple case study, this work-in-progress seeks to identify the main social sustainability aspects in Lleida’s agriculture and the issues that will improve seasonal workers’ labour conditions.