9000 kilometers. That is the distance Duangduean Sriutha (25), Phensri Bunpha (40) and Atjima Suraram (22) have traveled to get to Vangsnes in Sogn. The three come from Thailand, but now they will make a living by picking strawberries for six months. – It’s nice to work here, says Atjima Suraram, who is usually a student. Eighteenth in Thailand, Phensri Bunpha runs a small fruit shop, while Duangduean Sriutha works in a restaurant. – I miss my family and my dog. But we are doing well here, says Atjima. Usually there are a dozen Poles who pick berries on the farm of fruit farmer Ola Hopperstad, but several factors mean that this year fewer guest workers come to Norway than before. Long-term effects after the pandemic Better job market in Poland The war in Ukraine and the turbulent situation in Eastern Europe For Hopperstad, the solution is therefore to bring in 40 berry pickers from Thailand. – Here in Western Norway it is not so common, but they have done this in Austland for a long time, he says. LACK OF PEOPLE: Usually 18,000 seasonal workers come to Norway to pick fruit, berries, vegetables and potatoes. So many will hardly come this year. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB – The word “critical” is used The UDI does not have numbers on how many guest workers come to Norway this year, but historically up to 18,000 seasonal workers have come to Norway every year to pick fruit, berries, vegetables and potatoes . So many will hardly come this year. – The word “critical” is used. There are probably very many who would like more seasonal workers this summer, says Ann-Kristin Kristoffersen in NHO Vestland. A new survey shows that two out of three NHO companies lack people. Especially berry farmers, tourism and dining are the framework. – For some, the shortage of seasonal workers is so great that it does not go around, says Kristoffersen. Last year, the Solberg government gave NOK 40 million to an interim scheme where farmers are reimbursed for their expenses in educating young people. – By training Norwegian youth now, the farmers may have substitutes and seasonal workers for a long time, said the then Minister of Agriculture and Food Olaug Bollestad to news. 40 MILLION FOR TRAINING: – By training Norwegian youth now, the farmers may have temps and seasonal workers for a long time, says Olaug Bollestad (KrF). Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB – Things are better this year – After two demanding years with a shortage of people, things are better this year, says Gunn Jorunn Sørum, who is a consultant at Gartnerhallen. Although most berry farmers use foreign labor, 70 per cent of the members of Gartnerhallen stated that they also used Norwegian labor last year. Gartnerhallen works to recruit more people for training and education, as well as to make new technology available to farmers. Something that can help are robots that pick berries. Fruit farmer Ola Hopperstad in Sogn, he also believes in the years to come will be dependent on bringing in seasonal workers from far and wide. The biggest bottleneck is our paper mill and visa fee of 6,500 kroner, says the berry farmer, who had to start in January to get everything in the box for the berry season. SEASON: Soon strawberries will abound in Norwegian fields. Many people then need working hands that can hold a roof. Photo: Sigrid Skjerdal / news
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Berry pickers from Thailand “save” Norwegian fruit farmers – news Vestland
