Gemüse Plunser is a family-run business that has been in operation for generations in Kematen, Tyrol, less than ten kilometres from the provincial capital of Innsbruck. The company specialises in the cultivation of lettuce, leek and broccoli and sells its products to wholesalers rather than directly to consumers.
Gemüse Plunser currently employs around 16 people, the vast majority of whom are foreign workers. These employees work on the farm on a seasonal basis, or in some cases all year round, and are instrumental in the successful cultivation of the fields and the production of high quality vegetables.
Lettuce, leek and broccoli are grown twice a year on 33 hectares of land, yielding a total of 1200 tonnes of vegetables a year. Work begins in March with the planting of the seedlings. The first harvest takes place in May when the vegetables are fully grown. The second harvest takes place in the autumn, usually in September or October. This farm requires careful planning and maintenance to ensure a continuous supply of fresh vegetables and to maximise the quality of the harvest.
On this farm work the boss and 16 employees who come from different countries. The Ukrainians stay all year round, but most of the others are seasonal.
In Austria, the recruitment of seasonal workers in agriculture is a challenge. This is due to the physically demanding nature of the work and the higher non-wage labour costs compared to neighbouring countries such as Germany.
To meet these challenges, the farm places great emphasis on making working conditions as comfortable and safe as possible. This includes the use of modern technology and health and safety training. In addition, the company values its employees as a key success factor and offers fair pay and transparent employment contracts.
The combination of improving working conditions and valuing employees is crucial not only to attracting seasonal workers, but also to retaining them for the long term. This is crucial to the success of the farm, which harvests lettuce, leek and broccoli from 33 hectares of land.
Recruitment of farm workers is done in a variety of ways. On the one hand, personal relationships and recommendations are used to recruit experienced and reliable workers. On the other hand, the company also works with professional agencies to find qualified seasonal workers. This mix of recruitment methods helps to assemble a reliable and competent team.
A special priority is the proper registration and insurance of all employees. This ensures not only legal compliance but also social security for the workforce. The health and well-being of the employees are of great importance to the company.
Accommodation is provided for new arrivals to ensure a smooth start to their working life. The accommodation is comfortable and well-equipped to provide a pleasant stay for the employees. This is especially important as many seasonal workers come from distant regions or even from abroad and thus need accommodation.
Working hours are usually from Monday to Saturday, although the company strives to schedule Sunday as a day off. This working time arrangement allows employees to enjoy the necessary rest and leisure time to regenerate.
Diversity in the Gemüse Plunser team naturally brings its own challenges. However, with increasing experience, the farm manager has found ways to deal with this diversity efficiently. Often the foremen who work in the fields have been in Austria for a long time and already have a better command of the local language. These foremen are often able to help their colleagues with minor translations or communication problems in the field. This promotes smooth teamwork and helps to overcome any language barriers.
The remuneration of employees at Gemüse Plunser is strictly in line with legal requirements. Full-time employees receive a minimum of 1,500 euros and are exempt from housing costs.
Although many employees still face language barriers, Plunser strives to make the work processes in the field understandable to everyone. Each tractor has a plan with symbols and simple words so that all work instructions are easy to understand.
For further clarification or communication, Plunser likes to use Facebook Messenger as a means of communication. On this platform, messages can be translated directly, which facilitates communication between team members and helps to overcome any language barriers. This ensures that everyone understands the information and instructions they need to do their jobs efficiently and safely.
Gemüse Plunser provides free accommodation for year-round and seasonal employees. These are usually double rooms, as many workers work in pairs. The workers’ houses are located at the foot of the farm and in the centre of the village. In addition, another house has been purchased in the neighbouring community, which is currently being renovated and will be available to the workers in the future.
Being right in the village means that the workers are in daily contact with the local population. Of particular note is the fact that Plunser also provides free accommodation for families, allowing the children to attend the local kindergarten or primary school and play in the local football clubs. The staff can sometimes be found at village festivals and can drive Plunser’s vehicles into the surrounding area at any time.
To promote the integration of year-round employees, they have the opportunity to attend German courses at local educational institutions during the winter months. This initiative not only facilitates communication, but also demonstrates Plunser’s commitment to the well-being of its employees.
Plunser’s biggest challenge is finding enough workers. He often employs more people than he actually needs, as workers often drop out or give up field work when they realise it is not for them. For many workers, other countries such as Germany are more attractive because they have a higher net income due to lower non-wage labour costs. This makes it difficult for Plunser to recruit workers and is a constant challenge for the company.
Overcoming language barriers is a major challenge for everyone involved. To overcome this, the employees of Gemüse Plunser have come up with a clever solution: German courses are offered that fit in well with their workload in the field. Most employees choose to attend these courses during the winter months.
The winter months offer employees the opportunity to improve their German without interfering with their work in the fields. As farming tends to be less labour-intensive or paused during this time, employees can continue to develop their language skills. This helps to facilitate communication in the workplace.
This commitment to training demonstrates the company’s willingness to support the integration of its employees and improve communication within the team. Better understanding not only promotes efficiency, but also strengthens employees’ sense of belonging and integration into the local community.
MILIMAT is a 2-year project funded by the EU Erasmus+ Programme that focuses on integrating migrants into multicultural agricultural teams. The project aims to develop several training resources for farmers and migrant workers in agriculture, with the goal of promoting fair labor relations and encouraging commitment to European labor rights. MILIMAT is led by the CIA Agricoltori Italiani Umbria (Italian Farmers’ Confederation of Umbria).
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Migrants Labour Insertion in Multicultural Agricultural Teams