Harvest helpers in Delmenhorst: minimum wage and living conditions in focus!

Harvest helpers in Delmenhorst: minimum wage and living conditions in focus!

The situation of harvest workers in Delmenhorst and the surrounding region is once again the focus of discussion. IG BAU – the industrial union for construction, agriculture and the environment – ​​is urgently calling for fair wages and better accommodation for seasonal workers who are indispensable in agriculture. According to a report by Delmenews These helpers often work under adverse conditions: in rain, sun or in a stooped position, they do their best to collect fruit and vegetables from the fields.

The district chairwoman Inge Bogatzki has made it unmistakably clear that seasonal workers should earn at least the legal minimum wage of currently 12.82 euros per hour. Anything below this is not permitted under applicable law. This is even supported by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, which does not allow any exceptions to the minimum wage for agriculture. A proposal from the German Farmers' Association to only pay seasonal workers 80 percent of the minimum wage was categorically rejected.

Origin and living conditions

Let's take a look at the origins of the harvest workers: around 70 percent come from Romania and around 25 percent come from Poland. In addition, workers from Bulgaria, Croatia and non-EU countries such as Georgia and the Republic of Moldova are also on duty. These seasonal workers not only help in the fruit and vegetable harvest, but are also actively involved in construction, tourism and the catering industry. A comprehensive survey from Deutschlandfunk shows that 243,000 seasonal workers were employed in German agriculture in 2023 alone.

The living conditions of these people are often appalling. Many live in run-down accommodation and face high rent costs, while food costs are deducted from their already scarce wages. Delicate reports highlight the excessive costs of accommodation and cases in which the legal right to the minimum wage was circumvented.

The demand for harvest workers

However, the demand for these workers remains unbroken. Without them, the workload in agriculture would be difficult to manage. The need for labor is enormous, especially during harvest times. Despite the mechanization in agriculture, many activities are still physically demanding and require the skills of experienced hands. According to IG BAU, support from the Fair Mobility advisory network, which helps seasonal workers with problems, is essential. Under www.faire-mobilitaet.de Anyone interested can find information in various languages, and those affected can seek help using the contact details (kontakt@faire-mobilitaet.de, Tel. 030-219 65 37 21).

With a look to the future: From 2026, a full refund for agricultural diesel will be introduced, and the federal government is also planning to reduce the electricity tax for agriculture. However, it is still important for society to draw attention to the conditions of seasonal workers and to stand up for their rights so as not to lose sight of the need for fair working conditions in agriculture.