Harvesting injustice How the legacy of neoliberal labour market regulation helps exclude seasonal migrant workers from social security in Germany

Seasonal migrant farmworkers have been one of the most vulnerable worker categories during the pandemic and yet essential for food security. In Germany, an ongoing proposal by the Government seeks to extend the duration of the general exemption of seasonal migrant workers from social security requirements, threatening to uphold workers’ vulnerability and further exacerbate precariousness. This article situates the proposed measure in the broader context of neoliberal labour market governance. It argues that the justifications for the social security exemption are based on assumptions that do not reflect seasonal migrant workers’ reality, thus unjustly depriving them from vital rights and protections.