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Probably a big blow to the berry picker’s themselves, but good that Finland is addressing the human trafficking risk and working conditions involved. I wonder if Sweden will do something similar.
DW documentary for context: https://youtu.be/vW1QWG3xSNg
Also a big(ish) issue for the industry. Local news had info that up to 80% of natural berries are picked up by foreginers. For majority of the pickers these gigs are pretty big source of income (compared on what they make back at home) but then there’s the few rotten apples who end up renting accommodiation, cars and everything to the pickers so that pretty much all of their earnings go back to the person providing work. Or that they don’t pay up at all and everything else in between. I’m not sure if that qualifies as human trafficking if pickers end up going back home empty handed, but that’s been an (relatively small, but existing) issue here.
Human trafficking is of course a big deal, but from the ones who end up in our forests picking berries the slavery-like conditions and long work days with next to nothing paid in return is a more common problem. And even if it’s more common it’s still a relatively rare problem.
That how it works on the Aussie working holiday visa too.
But the government makes you do 3 months farm work to extend your visa. So they encourage because it is so forced. You have all these highley educated workers doing shit work. My Irish friend who’s got a degree worked on a farm in the middle of nowhere and her rent was more than it was in Sydney located between downtown and the beach.
Pretty regular to up doing work that was below minimum wage and don’t get paid anything for overtime, weekend or late work.
