In an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus in Germany, the Interior Ministry said it is banning seasonal workers’ entry into the country, a spokesperson told DPA on Wednesday.
Harvest workers and other seasonal help will be refused entry at German borders as of Wednesday at 5 pm (1600 GMT), the official said.
This regulation applies to workers coming from outside the European Union, Britain, EU countries such as Bulgaria and Romania that are not part of the Schengen zone, as well as Poland and Austria, which have temporarily reintroduced their own border controls.
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These restrictions are absolutely necessary to break the chains of infection, the spokesperson said.
German Farmers’ Association, President Joachim Rukwied said that the entry ban would hit farms hard at a crucial time.
Domestic farms are prepared to implement all hygienic measures to prevent Covid-19 infection, he said, and the ban on migrant workers’ entry must be kept as short as possible.
Fruit and vegetable farms and vineyards in particular urgently need more workers.
Germany’s agricultural industry annually employs nearly 300,000 seasonal workers, coming mainly from Eastern Europe.
Many farms currently lack the necessary numbers of people for harvesting and sowing.
Germany’s Agriculture Ministry and various associations have set up internet portals to connect farms with people who are willing to work in the fields.