Government aims to ensure the entry of workers critical for security of supply to Finland for the 2021 growing season

The Finnish Government wishes to ensure the entry of workers critical for security of supply to Finland during the 2021 growing season. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has made a list of tasks that are indispensable or critical with respect to the security of supply or operations of the sectors, which also includes seasonal work in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries.

- The aim to ensure adequate numbers of seasonal workers for agriculture without compromising health considerations is highly important in terms of the whole new growing season. By this, we want to send a message to producers that they can continue to make plans for planting and for the season as a whole. This is also a question of our national security of supply. One of the critical issues is to make sure that permit procedures concerning seasonal workers work well, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä says.

The Government will continue the talks on the necessary guidance for entry to the country in such a way that health security is duly accounted for in the negotiations to come. The guidelines concerning seasonal workers will be updated in accordance with the hybrid strategy applied at that time.

- It is important that the guidelines on health security sent to the farms are fully in line with the Government’s hybrid strategy. They must also be clear and easy to follow. The guidelines will be sent to farms as soon as possible after the Government has made the necessary decisions,” Minister Leppä promises. 

Inquiries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Kirsi Heinonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 162 059, firstname.lastname(at)mmm.fi
Satu Haapaniemi, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 50 400 5193, firstname.lastname(at)mmm.fi