Finland Rejects 90% of Seasonal Work Visas for Wild Berry Pickers, Threatening Industry Collapse and Domestic Berry Shortages
Finland has rejected approximately 1,400 out of 1,600 processed seasonal work visa applications for wild berry pickers this year, representing nearly 90% of applications, according to a press release from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA). The decisions cite risks of worker exploitation and employers' failure to meet statutory obligations, with the MFA emphasizing that preventing labour trafficking is a legal obligation for Finnish authorities. Helsingin Sanomat reports that the MFA confirmed the 90% rejection rate on Tuesday, underscoring the severity of the crackdown (Helsingin Sanomat). Iltalehti previously reported that only 107 visa applications were approved, with the majority of rejections targeting Thai pickers, while some companies, such as Pohjola Foods, received approvals for their workers (Iltalehti). The rejections have triggered strong criticism from industry representatives, who warn of severe disruptions to the berry supply chain, potential price increases for consumers, bankruptcies among berry companies, and even the depletion of domestic frozen berry products before the next harvest season.
