Finland's doubled seasonal work permit costs hit berry pickers hard

The cost of seasonal work permits in Finland has nearly doubled this year, making it significantly harder to recruit foreign berry pickers. The price hike is creating recruitment challenges for the berry-picking industry that relies heavily on foreign seasonal labour.

Finland is facing a serious recruitment challenge in its berry-picking sector after the cost of seasonal work permits nearly doubled this year, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The sharp increase in permit fees has made it considerably more difficult for employers to attract foreign workers who traditionally make up a large share of the seasonal berry-picking workforce. The industry depends heavily on workers from countries such as Ukraine, Russia, and Southeast Asia to harvest wild berries during the short summer season.

The cost increase comes at a difficult time for the sector, as higher operational expenses squeeze already thin margins in a labour-intensive industry. Recruiters and berry companies are now warning that if the trend continues, it could affect the volume of berries harvested this season.