Polish farmers find it increasingly difficult to compete for Ukrainian seasonal workers

Polish farmers are experiencing growing difficulties attracting seasonal workers for berry harvesting, as they must compete for Ukrainians with producers from neighboring European countries, primarily Germany.

This is reported by WP Finanse.

To attract workers, farms resort to various methods. Bonuses and free accommodation have already become standard practice. On most plantations, earnings depend on the quantity of berries picked: the faster a worker harvests, the more they can earn.

Pay rates vary by region. In the Lublin district of Silesian Voivodeship, farms offer between 4 and 5 zlotys (approximately 48–60 hryvnias) per basket of strawberries picked — one of the highest rates on the market. In some regions, workers are paid around 2.50 zlotys per kilogram (30 hryvnias), though the employer provides free housing and the season runs from June to September.

Farms involved in picking strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries promise between 4,000 and 8,000 zlotys (48,000–96,000 hryvnias) per month depending on the volume of work. Seasonal employment is not limited to berries alone: businesses are also looking for workers to tend crops and weed beds. In the Słupsk area, wages are around 5,000 zlotys (60,000 hryvnias) per month, no work experience is required, and some employers offer reimbursement of travel expenses.

Ukrainians account for 67% of all foreigners working in Poland — approximately 5% of all employed people in the country. According to an analysis by the National Bank of Poland, more than 90% of Ukrainians who moved to Poland before the start of the full-scale war are currently employed.

At the same time, it has been reported that around 650,000 Ukrainian citizens working in Poland may potentially leave the country. According to an analysis by the Polish Economic Institute, for the majority of Ukrainians in Poland, the key factors remain legal residency status, stable employment, and competitive pay.