Seasonal work in agriculture remains the largest source of short-term foreign labor in Estonia, and this year 2,396 short-term foreign workers have arrived in the country, which is significantly less than in previous years, writes ERR News.
Data from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PBA) show that approximately 5,000 third-country foreign workers arrive in Estonia for short-term work every year. The majority come from Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan, India and Georgia. While the number of short-term work permits issued to Ukrainians, Moldovans and Uzbeks remains at a constant level, the number of Indians and Georgians is very variable.
Over the past three years, the trends have been very similar – the number of work permit applications increases sharply in March and drops in early autumn, which means that foreign workers come for seasonal work.
In 2024, 5,379 permits were issued, compared to 4,980 last year. By the 29th of June of this year, 2,396 permits had been issued, indicating that
the number of guest workers was decreasing.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many seasonal guest workers also came from Belarus, but currently people from there are not allowed in.
Raimond Strastin, head of the Estonian Horticultural Association, said that berry growers are finding workers themselves. He said that growers have been using seasonal guest workers from Ukraine and Moldova for years, and people usually bring friends who want to earn extra money in the summer, or a relative who is interested in the profit. Strastin added that people change – someone gets sick, someone goes to Central Europe, where it pays more, and new people arrive. The change is great, and it is becoming more difficult to find workers. Restrictions and bureaucracy also play a role. War, changes in visa requirements and transportation issues can also affect the availability of labor.
Strastin said that due to national security reasons, information about people is being checked more often. The PPA often requests documents that are difficult to obtain in wartime, such as educational diplomas, which must be attached to the work permit application. The PPA has now started processing applications faster.
The berry picking period is short, and even a few days of delay can cause significant losses.
Seasonal workers often also need accommodation and transportation, which increases costs.
Foreign labor for farmers is not an end in itself, but a solution to the shortage of local seasonal workers. Stratin explained that it is difficult to find locals who would be willing to work. Some growers have long-standing relationships with local residents, but when summer is in full swing and the berry season is in full swing and every minute counts, many choose to go enjoy the beach or spend their time relaxing in some other way, rather than getting up at four or five in the morning to go work in the fields.
Berry picking is a job that is very dependent on weather conditions. For example, if there is a heat wave, berries are picked early in the morning and in the evening, and this is a daily schedule that is not beneficial for local residents.
Strastin pointed out that this year’s berry harvest is modest – although the beginning of summer looked promising, heavy rains have flooded the fields, and the berries cannot be accessed.
Read also: Latvia’s State Forests acquires 5,000 hectares of forest land in Latgale from Swedish owners