Fear of existence in fruit growing: minimum wage increase endangers seasonal workers!

Fear of existence in fruit growing: minimum wage increase endangers seasonal workers!

A storm is brewing in Lower Saxony: the planned increase in the statutory minimum wage is causing deep worry lines among the region's fruit and special crop businesses. Claus Schliecker, chairman of the fruit growing specialist group in rural Lower Saxony, issues clear warnings. According to him, this development could threaten the existence of many local fruit growers. Loud gabot.de Landvolk Lower Saxony and various industry associations are calling for a special regulation in the minimum wage law specifically for seasonal workers.

On June 30, the Minimum Wage Commission will make a decision that could have far-reaching consequences. From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will rise to 13.90 euros, followed by a further increase to 14.60 euros in 2027, as announced by Farmers and Winegrowers Association reported. These developments could put a lot of pressure on agricultural businesses in particular.

The situation of seasonal workers

Seasonal workers are of central importance in the German agricultural sector. According to the 2023 Agricultural Census, 876,000 people are employed in agriculture, including 243,000 seasonal workers. These seasonal workers make a valuable contribution to the local food supply. They often come from countries with lower wages, which makes the German wage level attractive for them bmel.de highlights.

But with rising labor costs - in labor-intensive areas such as berry growing, these account for up to 60% of total costs - many companies are forced to relocate their crop production abroad. Schliecker emphasizes that some seasonal workers regularly return to the same companies, which underlines the close ties between the employees and the companies. Without the requested exemption, the desired self-sufficiency in local fruit and vegetables could be at risk.

Competitiveness at stake

The warnings are getting louder: The President of the Farmers and Winegrowers Association of Rhineland-Palatinate South, Eberhard Hartelt, sees the competitiveness of German agriculture in jeopardy. He emphasizes that many fruits and vegetables could become unprofitable due to higher labor costs. This could not only lead to production being relocated abroad, but also to company closures and thus to negative effects on security of supply. Political decision-makers are now required to find solutions that take both the protection of income and the competitiveness of the industry into account.

The situation is serious and requires urgent measures to strengthen German agriculture. Compared internationally, German farmers are under increasing pressure and discussions about possible special regulations for seasonal work are gaining momentum.