BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Labor has said it will start negotiations with Swedish officials following Sweden’s threat to suspend the issuance of seasonal working visas to Thai berry pickers, following reports of unfair treatment by employers and job brokers.

 

Swedish ambassador Jon Astrom Grondahl tweeted about the issue on January 13, stating that the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok will not facilitate berry pickers until employers guarantee fair recruitment, safety standards and decent working conditions for Thai workers in Sweden.

 

Department of Employment Director-General Phairoj Chotikasatien met with the ambassador in mid-December to discuss working conditions for Thai berry pickers. He noted that the problem is rather complex and involves a number of companies which purchase berries from the farms that hired the workers.

 

In recent years, the number of Thais eager to take up berry-picking jobs in Sweden and Finland has increased, with 6,000 Thais traveling to these countries in 2022 - up from 5,000 the previous year. However, the increase has also led to a rise in disputes, with about 400 workers asking the government to act as a mediator between them and their employers or recruitment agencies.

 

Samarn Laodumrongchai, an expert at the Institute of Asian Studies, said many Thai berry pickers end up overstaying their visas and taking up other jobs when they realize they haven’t made enough to cover their debts.

 

Labor Minister Suchart Chomklin said he is planning to convene a meeting soon to discuss a solution with related agencies.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230131120435082

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-01-31

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

there are many unemployed in sweden and finland, why do employers go and recruit berry pickers in thailand.... so far away? the  answer may be obvious ????

30 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

there are many unemployed in sweden and finland, why do employers go and recruit berry pickers in thailand.... so far away? the  answer may be obvious ????

Same in reverse in Thailand.

Shirley, there can't be that much of a demand for berry pickers [and therefor special aggie work visa] in Sweden that it deserves extraordinary diplomatic/immigration attention. 

 

Smelling a rat somewhere.

and somebody else is smelling money.......

Informative documentary on English Al Jazeera News channel on the terrible & appalling treatment of Thai berry pickers in Norway & Sweden. Try & find it well worth a watch. They have to work the cost of the expense getting there and work in foul weather. Live in squalid conditions and often earn little more than it costs them to get there. And these are supposedly 1st world Countries!

2 minutes ago, Martin Brit said:

They have to work the cost of the expense getting there and work in foul weather. Live in squalid conditions and often earn little more than it costs them to get there.

If there is not money to be made , why do they go ?

47 minutes ago, Martin Brit said:

Informative documentary on English Al Jazeera News channel on the terrible & appalling treatment of Thai berry pickers in Norway & Sweden. Try & find it well worth a watch. They have to work the cost of the expense getting there and work in foul weather. Live in squalid conditions and often earn little more than it costs them to get there. And these are supposedly 1st world Countries!

Unfortunately at the moment the video is not available:

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/101-east/2021/5/6/swedens-thai-berry-pickers

It's a complex issue; Sweden, Finland and Norway require picking companies guarantee minimum wages, transportation, housing & meals 24/7, health insurance and travel cost r/t for all they bring in. They bring in even Thai cooks!

 

Some years they don't get enough berries to make any profit.

 

Poor pickers don't make money neither....

 

Who's to blame?

 

On the other hand; Some years all make lot of money!

Japanese buy everything and ask for more...

 

Then we hear about so many unemployed "refugees" in Sweden, early 20 yr olds with their smart phones and backpacks. Maybe easier for them to accept social security?