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Wed, 04 Mar, 2015 12:03:40 AM FTimes – STT Report, Mar 4  File Photo Lehtikuva. Nearly 3,000 berry pickers from Thailand and other countries required to apply for entry visa are expected to arrive in the country this year.
The number of foreign berry pickers to arrive in the summer is expected to correspond to last year's figure according to the estimation of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation-ETL and the Finnish authorities.
In a move aimed at improving the welfare of berry pickers arriving in the country, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as several berry companies signed a letter of intent in December last year.
The berry companies which signed the agreement are committed to expand orientation of the tasks involved in berry picking, as well as take into account a more detailed concern on the conditions of berry pickers accommodation and washroom facilities and their food service.
File Photo Lehtikuva. The letter of intent, however, does not define the minimum pay for the berry pickers.
"This (letter of intent) is the so-called gentleman's agreement not a legal norm," said Olli Sorainen, Senior Government Counsellor at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
According to Sorainen, a total of sixteen berry companies have signed the agreement, and more companies are expected to be party to the agreement in order to improve the coverage.
The names of the companies which have signed the letter of intent have been published in the Ministry of the Employment and the Economy website.
Leading companies such as Ber-Ex and Polarica are among the companies which have been tied to the agreement.
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Finland Times
| Thursday, 25 April, 2024 |
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