The Saxon farmer Association (SLB) and the national Association of Saxon fruit have praised the compromise on the admission of Harvest workers. “We are pleased that we have achieved a solution,” said SLB-managing Director Manfred Uhlemann on Friday in Dresden. Also, the managing Director of the fruit growers Association, Udo Jentzsch, the regulation of a great help. “Of course we welcome that,” said Jentzsch. “We hope that we can bring in all these regulations, our harvest, but very good.”
Federal agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) and interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) had to avoid agreed on Thursday, that in this and in the next month 40 000 seasonal workers under certain conditions, from Eastern Europe to Germany are allowed to enter – to-harvest losses. In concern for rapid Virus spread, the interior Ministry had imposed previously, far-reaching restrictions on admission of seasonal workers.
4056 Seasonal workers would not have had the farmers of Saxony, for the start of the end of the season – including Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. Now you may enter. However, only in groups and by plane. Those arriving must live in the first 14 days of strictly separated from other workers and work and not allowed to leave the premises. The government calls this a “de facto quarantine, while the possibility to work”.
Saxony’s agricultural Minister, Wolfram, Günther (Green) called the rules a “very important step, in order to secure sowing, planting and harvest,”: “, We assume that a significant part of the seasonal work in Saxony can be covered.” However, Günther also saw two difficulties: firstly, the need to move people to come to Germany: “Because Corona is uncertainty.” On the other, smaller operations are likely to have difficulties, the requirements of the Federal government to implement. This should cover their needs to continue with local workers. Günther holds for short-time workers, pupils and students is appropriate.
“We are pleased that the policy brings to us here a bit of confidence that the companies do it properly – also in the sense of the infection protection,” said Uhlemann. In order to reduce the overall demand for labour, wanted the vegetable and fruit farmers to cooperate with each other, stressed Uhlemann and Jentzsch.
Up to the strawberry harvest at the end of may the fruit growers in Saxony “so a requirement of 1000 to 1100 seasonal workers,” said Jentzsch. Until then, the companies would not be aware of, according to foreign seasonal questions helpers. They would have to deal with currently give priority to the asparagus. You will also try to delay the harvest a bit, said Jentzsch. The strawberries had been covered in many places with straw. Overall, it was optimistic – especially because the security for the farms came back, “that’s how to get the people here back”.
“The prerequisite is of course that the people come – that you want to come,” said Jentzsch. While there is concern that some harvesters do not want to currently travel to Germany. But it was “optimistic that all this work that we get seasonal workers”, – said the head of the fruit growers.
The harvesters are to be selected via a digital platform following feedback from the farmers. “We expect that the beginning will start next week on the Portal,” said SLB-chief Uhlemann. At the latest next week, expect to see the first flown-in seasonal workers. However, would also be required to view a local helping hands. “We expect a Size of 10 000 – the benefit to us really”.
dpa
