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Foreign berry pickers will have to enter Finland as seasonal workers due to the issues that have occurred in the wild berry sector.
According to a press release by the Finish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, this change has been made to ensure that the rights of berry pickers are being protected and they are guaranteed decent income for their services, Schengen.News reports.
From now on, Finnish companies have to employ foreign berry pickers with an employment contract in order for them to be allowed to enter the country. Thus, foreign berry pickers will be required to apply for a seasonal work permit from February 17, 2025.
Finnish Authorities Introduce New Measures to Foreign Berry Pickers In Efforts to Avoid Exploitation
Prior to these changes introduced by the Finnish authorities, foreign berry pickers could enter Finland with a short-term Schengen visa, which is usually issued for tourism purposes.
However, due to reports of exploitation, problems related to the working conditions and earnings of foreign pickers, as well as human trafficking, it was necessary for the authorities to take action.
Last year, Finland suspended visas for berry pickers from Thailand due to concerns about human trafficking.
900 Residence Permits Granted to Thai Berry Pickers in 2024
The Finnish authorities have issued 900 residence permits to berry pickers from Thailand, while the first group of Thai berry pickers reached the Kainuu region in the middle of 2024.
But, prior to their arrival, in 2024, the Thai berry pickers had delayed their arrival to Finland, as they were pushing for certain conditions to be met by Finnish authorities.
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, Thai applicants filed 7,657 Schengen visa applications to Finland in 2023. In total, Thailand was the ninth-largest country of origin for visa applicants, accounting for 270,504 applications.
Source: https://schengen.news/foreign-berry-pickers-to-enter-finland-as-seasonal-workers-from-now-on/
