The first plane with seasonal workers arrived in Germany from Romania
After the German Interior Ministry banned the entry of seasonal workers from Eastern Europe on March 25, the government considered involving the unemployed and asylum seekers in Germany in the harvest. According to the president of the agricultural association Joachim Rukwid, this would only alleviate the labor shortage but not completely solve the problem. "Many workers from Eastern Europe have been working on the same farm for years and have gained certain experience; it will be difficult to replace them with newcomers," Rukwid is convinced.
As reported by "Russkaya Germaniya", after desperate appeals from farmers and association members, a group of CDU politicians prepared an urgent letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel demanding the lifting of the ban on worker entry. As agreed in early April by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Agriculture, a certain number of workers will still be able to enter Germany this year. In April and May, 40,000 helpers each month will be allowed to come for the harvest in Germany, but under fairly strict conditions.
They can only arrive by plane and only in groups. In addition, health checks for entrants are required, and they must not leave the location of the farm where they work for 14 days. Naturally, if inspectors detect signs of infection, migrants will be denied entry. Harvest workers are also required to maintain the necessary distance while working, and if that is not possible, to wear protective gloves and masks.
Without foreign labor,
a good harvest can be forgotten
"We cannot do without seasonal labor," said Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner. "This year we find ourselves at the center of a conflict where on one side is protecting the population from infection, and on the other is preserving the harvest." Incidentally, for seasonal workers already in Germany, concessions will be made this year: they will be allowed to work 115 days instead of the usual 70.
Whether 80,000 workers from Eastern Europe will save the harvest in Germany and whether they will want to come to work under pandemic conditions is a big question. Minister Julia Klöckner believes that the harvest of early crops such as asparagus or strawberries in large volumes is in question this year, which may primarily affect final prices for consumers.
In addition to external workers, the government this year will also try to attract German helpers – students, the unemployed, asylum seekers, and employees on reduced working hours. According to the minister, it is necessary to find the right balance between protecting the population from infection and harvesting the crop.