September 1 2006, 11:04

Poland simplifies employment of seasonal farm workers from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Germany

Two days ago the specialists of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal informed about distressful situation for Polish farmers who are facing severe labor scarcity during seasonal activities. Finally, Polish government approved a resolution in order to simplify the employment of foreign seasonal workers from four countries in agricultural industry. According to information provided by Anna Kalata, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, this decision was made in effort to solve the problem of labor scarcity in Polish agriculture. "We do not want to sit and look on perished strawberry and rotten apples on trees", the Minister said.

All foreigners willing to get any, even seasonal work in Poland, were to obtain labor permit. In addition to complicated procedure of permit obtaining, there was a little chance to get it. The labor permit costs nearly $ 300 - it is another obstacle for many seasonal workers too. Now the resolution is signed, so the foreigners from Ukraine, Germany, Belarus and Russia can legally been employed for seasonal agricultural work without obtaining the labor permit.

At the same time practically all Polish farmers inform about multiple reduction of the number of Ukrainian workers coming to Poland to harvest vegetables, fruits and berries in 2006. The number of Ukrainians decreased 5-10 times during harvesting season in some villages which are specialized on produce growing.

After the resolution comes into effect, Polish farmers will possibly be able to attract more workers from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia at least to harvest apples. However, to the opinion of Andrey Yarmak, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Marketing Project, Polish farmers should not count on significant increase of foreign workers on their fields. The expert says, labor cost has been growing much faster in Ukraine and Russia than in Poland during 3-4 recent years. Today Ukrainian workers get in average $9-10/day during produce harvest; workers' wages is $12-13/day in Poland. The labor scarcity is also observed on construction sites in Ukraine - but workers can get there $12-14/day. So Ukrainians have not much interest in seasonal agricultural work in Poland, and the reason for this fact is obvious.