Berry far away: Thai farmers chase sweeter loans in Scandinavia

[snoop1130]

 

The BAAC is offering loans for Thai farmers to harvest berries in Sweden and Finland this summer.

 

The state-owned Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) earmarked 375 million baht to help 5,000 Thai farmers embark on an adventurous journey to pick wild berries in Sweden or Finland during this year’s harvest season, starting this month.

 

BAAC President Chatchai Sirilai announced today that the bank will provide loans of up to 75,000 baht to its customers eager to travel to these Nordic countries. The aim is to enable farmers to support their families after the rice cultivation season concludes.

 

 

“We want to provide our farmers with opportunities to enhance their income.”

 

However, there are conditions attached to this offer. The loans must be repaid in a single instalment by December 31. Furthermore, only those who are current customers of the BAAC and whose names appear on approved employment agency lists are eligible. This measure ensures that the farmers are legally employed and receive adequate welfare protection while working abroad, reported Thai PBS World.

 

“The bank does not endorse farmers travelling independently to pick wild berries. We want to ensure their safety and legality through registered employment agencies.”

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Asia Democracy Chronicles

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-05

 

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[Gottfrid]

So, the bank wants to give people an opportunity to earn more. How can they earn more, just for borrowing money? It will be interest on the borrowed amount. As usual the bank does this to fool people into easy loans that makes them have to pay extra of the money they will be able to make.

 

After that, for starters they will have to pick a hell of a lot, just to pay back their loan. After that, they should also make good money on the side. After a season of 70 days, a median income of about 5000-6000 usd is normal. The cost for everything in Sweden is about 4000 usd. So the berry picker return with around 1000-2000 usd to Thailand. Of course the loan goes to cover the costs, but not all. Roughly they will have extra 20k baht to pay back, because it was easy to live good and used borrowed money plus the interest for 6 month. That will be extra costs on their hard earned money. Result will be that they have around 25-50k baht left. Not much to put in the wallet after such a trip and work.

[motdaeng]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The BAAC is offering loans for Thai farmers to harvest berries in Sweden and Finland this summer.

 

“We want to provide our farmers with opportunities to enhance their income.”

 However, there are conditions attached to this offer. The loans must be repaid in a single instalment by December 31.

“The bank does not endorse farmers travelling independently to pick wild berries. We want to ensure their safety and legality through registered employment agencies.”

 

 

 

what could possibly go wrong with this great idea? 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We want to provide our farmers with opportunities to enhance their income.”

So sad they can't make ends meet in their own country... failed governments perpetuating misery.

[cowellandrew]

Ah

wild berries in Sweden or Finland

[john donson]

the price of the plane ticket alone ...

 

free stay ? free food ?  no tax to be paid, aka foreign income ?

 

[digger70]

: Thai farmers chase sweeter loans in Scandinavia

 

Some say it's a Scam /Rip of Others can get a Decent Employer who does the right thing like this for Example.  

 

Let’s imagine that you’re the one hiring people to berries picking.

You are obligated by the collective agreements you wrote down with the unions to pay a minimum salary about 22000 SEK a month.

You can’t find Swedish workers as they are not interested in temporary job low paid.

You have to hire people from far away countries like Ukraine or Thailand.

They never have been picket berries in their life.

They don’t know the language don’t know the forest and anything about your situation.

They know that they will have 22000 SEK in the month.

That’s a very good salary for them.

They have no any idea how much berries they have to deliver to you so you get around with the profit.

You can tell them that you expect let’s say one hundred kilograms berries every day from every one of them.

Let’s say that this year is a lot of berry in the forest and they can easily pick up one hundred kilograms a day. They will try do it most of them.

They have some good working moral and maybe hope to get even more money if they pick up more than a one hundred kilograms maybe even double some of them.

What happened when the year is bad and not much berries in the forest?

They will find impossible to pick up one hundred kilograms berries as you expect.

Working moral will go down as they know they will get anyway 22000 SEK as promised and task is impossible anyway.

You are facing lose money and maybe even bankruptcy.

What choice do you have?

You have a one choice don’t keep a promise and don’t pay them minimum salary but pay only for the kilograms of berries they actually picked up and delivered to you.

It seems to be very fair to you doesn’t?

Then if they are not in the union themselves nobody really care.

They have to pay the union and get memberships to get help and get moneys.

They know nothing about that.

All those who are hiring people know very well about that.

They don’t want to lose money in the bad year of course but they can become greedy in the good year as well.

They maybe have to have collective agreements with the union to be able to bring people to Sweden.

They know that nobody control after what happened.

What do you think what they do?

What would you do in their shoes?

Let’s say you are not a greedy person but if you face lose?

Summary

That is certainly not a dream job but not necessary rip-off either but could be.

[brianthainess]

On 7/5/2024 at 3:06 PM, snoop1130 said:

“The bank does not endorse farmers travelling independently to pick wild berries. We want to ensure their safety and legality through registered employment agencies.”

And how much do the agencies charge ? 

[bamnutsak]

Human Trafficking, with the imprimatur of the Thai government, who take their skim.

 

 

Thai berry pickers in Europe — a case of the poor getting poorer

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/sustainability/40035574

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=564112295243954