Dearth of land workers delays Greek olive harvest

The lack of land workers and rainfall in various olive producing areas Greece such as in P.E. Fthiotida, Fokida, Etoloakarnania, Arta, have led to delays in the table olive harvest with olive farmers in despair.

It is characteristic that shortly before the end of the “Chalkidiki” green olive harvest, according to the Interprofessional Organization of Table Olives (DOEPEL), a decrease in the harvest is noted with the amount harvested so far reaching approximately 60% of the production, with the possibility that a quantity of the otherwise table olive variety taken to the oil press in the future.

At the same time, the collection of green olives of the ‘Konservolia’ variety has also slowed down mainly due to the lack of labor, prolonged drought in the production areas and low producer prices. It is estimated that 35% of the crop has yet to be harvested.

DOEPEL blames government agency inadequacy in addressing the problem of the seasonal migration of foreign land workers from neighboring countries, because of which a large number of these workers went to other European countries. Consequently there has been a significant increase in wages and the cost of production, and also the non-harvesting of the trees, creating despair among growers.

Meetings to register needs

The lack of labor is hampering all farmers and especially olive growers, who are now just before the harvest.

For this reason, a series of meetings are being held in various regions of the country, in which the increased needs regarding the jobs and specialties that will be covered by citizens of third countries through the transfer process are recorded.

The increased and continuous needs for land work have led farmers and agricultural cooperatives to request from the relevant ministries, an increase in workers for better quality and more efficient harvesting and production of their products.

Asian and Ukrainian interest

Greece is in discussions, according to information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, to bring about 35,000 land workers from Vietnam to Greece.

At the same time in Crete, there was a first interest from refugees coming mainly from Ukraine. However, the main condition for this to proceed is to find residences with a legal lease, as the cost of housing is covered by European funds and is addressed exclusively to citizens who are under refugee status. For this reason, the Agricultural Association of Ierapetra, Crete invites all house owners who have the ability to legally lease available property to contact the Association’s offices immediately, since there is – among other things – a serious housing problem in the area.

Extension for worker recall

It is recalled that for land workers, with a recent regulation of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, the date for the transfer of workers for employment in the agricultural sector was extended until March 31, 2023, although the deadline initially expired at the end of last September.