France: new seasonal workers for the early harvest

Audio 01:18

Left out of work all summer, the students take advantage of the early harvest to make some money. RFI / Agnieszka Kumor

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Strong heat obliges, the harvest 2020 started a few weeks in advance. So this year the seasonal workforce is a little different. In the rows of the vines of Domaine de Verret in Burgundy, it is the students who pick the grapes.

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Kneeling in the earth, Jeanne is busy cutting the bunches as quickly as possible. The communication student is harvesting for the first time. “  This is the opportunity to play sports before the start of the school year too, because after confinement we need it. It feels good to get some fresh air, to go outside a bit, especially to return to Paris afterwards, it's better. "

Out of 22 seasonal workers hired this year, 14 are students. Having had no odd job all summer, Maël took advantage of the early harvest to have a salary before the start of the school year. “  I stay for two weeks. Everyone's in a good mood and everything. It is not that complicated. I expected worse when I was told. It is not easy, but good. It is especially necessary to pay attention to the fingers and then it goes by itself. "

Usually, the estate welcomes Polish seasonal workers for the harvest, but coronavirus forces them, they were unable to come.

“  There are a lot of students who have looked for work. Usually we start rather early September so we have no students, so it is more difficult to find people  ”, explains Clémence Verret, in charge of recruitment.

But young people are not the only beginners. Unemployed for 6 months, Céline, 42, has her head down on the vine. “  This is the first time. It is out of necessity. I have just completed a secretarial training.  "

There are also fewer job offers due to the health situation. Céline has therefore signed up for three weeks of harvest and in September she hopes to find a job in her field.

► See also: Coronavirus: in Western Europe, the puzzle of the agricultural sector to recruit seasonal workers

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  • France
  • Agriculture and Fishing
  • Employment and Work

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