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Rendsburg (dpa / lno) - Farmers in Schleswig-Holstein need around 10,000 seasonal workers annually to bring in the vegetable and fruit harvest as desired.
According to the farmers' association, the first have already arrived to plant seedlings and prepare for the vegetable harvest.
How many will follow is fairly uncertain due to the corona situation.
"Last year, the demand could only be covered to about 50 percent despite considerable efforts," said association spokeswoman Kirsten Hess of the German press agency.
Most of the harvest workers come from Romania, Bulgaria and Poland.
Half of these are women and half are men.
According to the farmers' association, an estimated 6,000 seasonal workers are required in the spring season, 4,000 of them for strawberries and 1,000 each for asparagus and other vegetables such as cabbage.
The need could fall by around a third if, as in the previous year, the federal government would exceptionally allow the helpers to stay 115 days due to Corona and not just 70, as otherwise legally required.
The state farmers' association advocates this at the federal level.
“We would like to have the 115 days for this year too,” confirms Secretary General Stephan Gersteuer.
With this aim in mind, Association President Werner Schwarz has also written a corresponding letter to Agriculture Minister Jan Philipp Albrecht (Greens) and to the members of the Bundestag from the state.
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If the 115-day rule were to apply again this year, so many seasonal workers would not have to travel, which would also reduce the risk of infection.
"We take out private health insurance for seasonal workers," explained Gersteuer.
Strict protective measures apply to the harvest workers.
Anyone who comes from a risk area must be tested for Corona and go into quarantine.
Since February 6, the so-called work quarantine has been possible again, in which seasonal workers are only allowed to leave their accommodation to work.
This is linked to tight regulations for contacts, accommodation, transport, sanitary conditions, corona tests and the wearing of protective masks.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210306-99-711416 / 2