The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on Politics), Mrs. Thienrat Navamawat; the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Wannarat Srisuksai; the Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, and the committee paid a visit and gave dried foods to encourage Thai wild fruit pickers in Finland. The visit took place at the Artic Strawberry Farm Workers Camp in Helsinki, Finland. This farm is a model farm that employs over 400 Thai workers in the form of seasonal workers. After the workers have finished picking strawberries on the farm, they can collect 100 kilograms of wild fruit daily as a supplementary occupation. The fruits are sold for 1.5 -1.6 Euros per kilogram, earning at least 5,000 – 6,000 Baht per day. Talking to the Thai wild fruit pickers in Finland made them more aware of the livelihoods of Thai workers. The wild fruit picking profession is not in the system. The workers still lack many benefits, especially in public health. Sometimes they risk diseases from mosquitoes, ticks, and insect bites in the forest because it is forbidden to use mosquito or insect repellent.
Mrs. Thienrat said that the Ministry of Labour had made efforts to find solutions for these workers so that employers provide benefits and welfare and ensure that the workers receive public health measures following the Finnish government’s measures. They have requested cooperation from the Finnish companies that purchase wild fruits to appoint or assign the private sector, registered as a juristic person in Thailand, to coordinate the deployment of workers collecting wild fruits in Finland. This will follow the provisions of Thailand’s law for traveling to work abroad.
“This trip to visit the Thai workers allowed us to meet and talk with the Thai workers. Each Thai worker has had to leave home to work abroad. We asked about their well-being and shared words of encouragement from the government. The government is concerned about all Thai workers who work abroad. Each person is a pillar in their family who intends to work to earn money to support their family in Thailand. Each year, they generate a large income contributing to the country’s development. Today, myself, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, the Department of Employment, and the committee visited the Thai workers ourselves,” concluded Mrs. Thienrat.
Employers admire Thai workers who collect wild fruits in Finland because Thai workers have expertise in farming and agriculture because they require certain skills. For example, there are modifications in fruit storage to suit the physical condition and the area. This makes it possible to collect large volumes of wild fruits. The Ministry of Labour wants to push these workers into the system to receive legal protection and a better quality of life.
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Division of Public Relations
6 September 2022
