Despite Finland processing and issuing a high number of employee residence permits to Thai nationals, no wild-berry pickers have entered the country yet for this harvest season. Birgitta Partanen of the Arctic Aroman Association has highlighted this concerning situation, noting the potential impact on the wild-berry industry.
Partanen stated that the association had expected a significant number of Thai workers, who are traditionally a major part of the berry-picking workforce in Finland, to arrive for the season. However, the absence of these workers is puzzling given the substantial number of permits processed.
The Arctic Aroman Association has called for an investigation into the matter to understand why the permit holders have not traveled to Finland. This situation raises concerns about the upcoming harvest and the potential economic impact on the berry industry.
Stakeholders in the industry are urging the authorities to take swift action to address the issue, ensuring that the harvest can proceed smoothly and the economic benefits of the wild-berry season are not lost.
As Finland awaits the arrival of these essential workers, the uncertainty continues to loom over the wild-berry fields, with the potential for significant labor shortages if the situation remains unresolved.
