The Latvian Radio material reports that farms are finding it increasingly difficult to find people for seasonal work, including berry picking. Farmers believe that part of the problem can be solved through automation and clearer rules for attracting workers from abroad.
The Latvian Radio material reports that farms are finding it increasingly difficult to find people for seasonal work, including berry picking. Farmers believe that part of the problem can be solved through automation and clearer rules for attracting workers from abroad.
The manager of the berry farm Very Berry, Gundega Saushkina, explained that the shortage of workers is particularly acute in the second half of August, when schoolchildren, students, and teachers who worked during the summer return to their studies. Last year, the farm attracted seasonal workers from India, who were transferred from two other Latvian enterprises after the blueberry harvest was completed. According to her, this helped meet the demand for workers during the cranberry harvest, where some tasks still have to be done manually.
In total, 130 seasonal employees worked at the farm last season, of which 15 were foreigners. Saushkina emphasizes that these are temporary workers who come for the season and then leave, rather than staying to live in Latvia. This year, the enterprise has expanded its berry tunnels, so production volumes and the need for workers will increase. At the same time, attempts to attract local residents through advertisements and online meetings with residents of Latgale yielded minimal results — only two people responded.
In Saushkina's opinion, Latvia lacks a clear immigration policy: businesses need clear rules — from which countries workers can be invited, how many can come, whether language knowledge is required, and what conditions apply to seasonal employment.
A similar position was expressed by the manager of the blueberry farm Arosa-R, Mara Rudzate. She believes that the industry cannot do without foreign seasonal workers: her farm has been hiring Ukrainians for many years, and this year plans to attract workers from India as well. Rudzate emphasizes that berry cultivation still requires a large amount of manual labor, and issues related to attracting labor should be addressed at the state level. According to her, if the country wants to maintain local production of fruits, berries, and vegetables, it is necessary to create effective and clear rules for the seasonal employment of foreigners.
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