Migrant workers in swedish agriculture. health, safety and communication issues

Background/Objectives: Migrant workers in agriculture are a rather new but growing trend in Sweden, due to lack of local workers and economic benefits for employers. The present project started with a review of the literature, followed by a web-based survey to agricultural employers. The survey was responded by almost 4000 employers, indicating that 20% of them used migrant workers during 2011. Results showed that migrant workers are common both for shorter and longer periods within animal production, horticulture, forestry as well as construction work. Most of the migrant workers come from the Eastern part of Europe, such as Poland, Lithuania and Romania, with the goal to earn a better income. In the on-going phase of the project is the focus on communication issues; such as work instructions, health and safety issues and food hygiene.

Metods: Data is collected through interviews in 15 workplaces with the employers, native Swedish co-workers and the migrant workers (in their own language).

Results/Conclusions: The results shows a number of critical problems which has led to miss-understandings, increased health and safety risks as well as food hygiene incidents. Positive solutions and good ideas have also been detected. The results of the project will be presented at a work-shop with the stakeholders in order to make an action plan for further actions including research, international collaboration and education. A guide-book for employers will be one of the practical results.