French ministerial proposals to reduce the seasonal workers rate of pay from €12 (10.84) an hour to a little less than €9 have not been welcomed by growers.
The changes would only come in during 2010 and so give no relief to growers already struggling to stay in business this year, against a background of low pricing and cheaper labour costs in competing countries.
Angélique Delahaye, president of vegetable growers union Légumes de France, said: “We are calling for a reduction in the cost of labour of our permanent employees.”
She added, referring to agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire’s suggestion to look to eastern Europe: “There are enough people unemployed in France to find other solutions.”
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