Thais warned: Sweden and Finland berry-picking job quota filled

[webfact]

Thais warned: Sweden and Finland berry-picking job quota filled

By The Nation

 

Labour Ministry's Department of Employment (DOE) director-general Waranon Pitiwan

 

BANGKOK: -- Thai workers wishing to work as berry-pickers in Sweden and Finland must not believe those trying to convince them to work in those countries this year, as the yearly job quota had been filled and no extra posts will be available, the Labour Ministry's Department of Employment (DOE) director-general Waranon Pitiwan warned on Tuesday.

 

Waranon said as Thai workers travel to Sweden and Finland for berry-picking jobs between July and September every year, Thais must be aware that ill-intentioned people might try to lure them through various media channels for such jobs.

 

Waranon said the DOE's quota this year (3,351 for Sweden and 3,267 for Finland) was filled and the registered workers departed in July. 

 

Waranon said that last year the DOE sent 3,327 Thai berry-pickers to Sweden and 2,503 to Finland - each of whom had to pay expenses, such as a visa fee, national and international fees and insurance. 

 

The director-general urged people to think carefully when eyeing this work.

 

Waranon explained that berry-picking was not easy to do and was best suited for people who had done the work previously and had sound health.

 

He said that the income might be less than expected when expenses were deducted, so those interested in the work should first get details at the DOE's Overseas Employment Administration Division at 02 245 6499 and 02 245 6714 or contact DOE branch offices, the Bangkok DOE area 1-10 offices or call the hotline 1694.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318591

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-20

[observer90210]

interesting points...not to mention the harsh climate, the food, the culture that is quite individualistic and that may not suit every Thai individual....

 

very true that it is often worth to think twice before considering that the streets of western nations are all paved with gold, and that the people are all open minded socialites....

 

 

[Kasset Tak]

Yea, I have former students working in both Europe and Japan and they all complain that it is hard work... especially that 8 hour work means 8 hour work and not 2 hour work and 6 hours using Facebook and/or other apps on their phones.

[TerryLH]

"Waranon said the DOE's quota this year (3,351 for Sweden and 3,267 for Finland) was filled and the registered workers departed in July. "

 

Typo?

[Get Real]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Waranon said the DOE's quota this year (3,351 for Sweden and 3,267 for Finland) was filled and the registered workers departed in July. 

Incredible that they departed in July, when it´s still only June. Didn´t know that berry-picking included a free ticket to travel in time.

 

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Waranon said that last year the DOE sent 3,327 Thai berry-pickers to Sweden and 2,503 to Finland - each of whom had to pay expenses, such as a visa fee, national and international fees and insurance. 

Guess that was a time-travel into the world of reality, and reality bites.

 

However, it´s actually a good and realistic warning. It´s easy for people to believe in theese fantasies. Berry-picking is actually a shit-work that they announce to Thais because no one in both countries wants to do it. Might sound like good pay to dome, but at the end it´s just an adventure in a foreign country with a little bit better salury than they can get right here.

[Srikcir]

16 hours ago, observer90210 said:

not to mention the harsh climate

You mean because it will be much colder compared to Thailand in the summer?

In Sweden between June and August you can expect temperatures to regularly top 20°C (68°F) and it can get as hot as 30°C (86°F).  July temperatures in Finland average 13 to 17°C.

(Google)

 

[observer90210]

yes colder. I meant..

 

if 30° is acceptable winter temperature for Thailand (lucky chaps), 13° to 17° could be cold for a Thai comming from a remote village?

 

Similar to a friend of mine from Iceland...he goes around with a T shirt when it's 20° here and I'm wearing a jacket and light sweater!!

 

What about you, how do you cope with the heat in Thailand? Do you bear it or have the a/c on full throttle when it goes beyond 35°?

Edited June 21, 2017 by observer90210

[Srikcir]

1 minute ago, observer90210 said:

13° to 17° could be cold for a Thai comming from a remote village?

Say that when picking berries for 8 hours. Coolness might be welcomed.