Tips on how to treat harvest helpers

Migrant workers are often employed to help with harvesting apples.

Migrant workers are an essential help for fruit farmers, wine makers and with the strawberry and cucumber harvest. What do farmers have to look out for when employing migrant workers? One thing is for sure – finding British harvest helpers is not an easy task. Most of the British applicants don’t get any further than the first interview.

The physically demanding job and low wages dampen the spirits very quickly. In comparison, finding committed migrant workers is quite easy. Advertising a job is either done online or in one of the eastern European agricultural newspapers. Or the workers come recommended or through one of the informal migrant worker networks.

But the employer has to keep an eye on the costs. The wages for migrant workers are a lot lower than wages for British helpers and the pay can be discussed individually. But the best way is to pay for performance and not per hour. Most companies also provide food and lodgings even if it is only a place to sleep in a converted stable or a Portakabin. National and health insurance also have to be paid.

A few guidelines should be adhered to in order to really make a success of working with foreign helpers. It is always best if the same helpers come back for next year’s harvest. They already know you, your farm and your rules and requirements. Working together in that way means less hassle. But only about half the migrant workers return to farms they know the following year. Most important, if you want to keep them on for a long time, is a fair relationship between you and your helpers. If they feel like part of your business, the payment is on time and the contact with the Germans is friendly and open then you have won half the battle.