Seasonal workers – seasonaires

A significant part of the family holiday industry will be under threat unless Brexit negotiators find a satisfactory arrangement for the future of UK seasonaires in the EU.

MPI Brokers, the specialist ski and travel insurance provider, insures a significant number of seasonaires who are employed by UK travel companies to work in the EU under the terms of the EU’s Posted Workers Directive (PWD).

According to a recent survey conducted by MPI in association with ABTA, AITO and BIBA, and further evidence from Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBIT) up to 25,000 UK seasonaires are posted to the EU each year.

Addressing travel press at the Family Holidays press lunch in London today, MPI Managing Director Michael Pettifer said the lack of progress towards a Brexit deal was increasing fears in the holiday sector.

“Unless there is a reasonable alternative to the PWD, a major part of the industry could collapse, and thousands of livelihoods will be at stake. This will affect travel companies, their seasonaire employees and customers alike. What's more, it will have serious consequences for local businesses and their staff in popular destinations such as the Alps,” he said.

Bonding customers’ deposits

Against this background and the possibility of company failures, it is increasingly important that travel companies pay special attention to protecting customers’ deposits.

“After all this is a requirement under the Package Travel Regulations where applicable.”

Drinking on holiday

On the thorny matter of alcohol consumption during holidays, he said: “Drink a bit and if you are injured, most likely insurers will pay. Drink a lot and they will ask questions. If it can be proved that it was excessive, and on the balance of probabilities caused the injury, you may be footing the bills yourself.”

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