At the end of the summer, the working days of the Thai berry pickers in Västerbotten, Norrbotten and Västernorrland were clocked. Now the berry company Ransäter Invest, based in Värmland, which hired pickers from Thailand this year, is receiving harsh criticism.
The long working days, at least 12.5 hours per day, often more, can lead to both accidents and ill health, according to the authority.
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– Based on what we have seen and the information we have received from the pickers, we see that they continue to have very long working days and work every day of the week, says Gitte Larsson.
Drove 60 miles to pick berries
During one of the inspections, a group of pickers was stopped on a forest road between Älvsbyn and Arvidsjaur. The time was then 8:30 p.m. One of the pickers told us that they drove from Ånge at six in the morning, a distance of 60 miles. They would pick berries on the road and would now sleep in the car before driving back to Ånge the next day.
Must report working hours
Now Ransäter Invest, which hires pickers from two Thai staffing companies, must report what hours the pickers really work and assess the risk of ill health linked to this.
In addition, they must report which measures need to be taken.
“Fishing and visiting flea markets”
The company’s CEO, Johan Borg, does not have time to do any longer interviews this week, he announces.
– No, we have requested a week longer to respond to the Swedish Work Environment Authority and need the time for this, he says.
During one of the inspections, personnel from the company stated that the entire day that the berry pickers are out cannot be counted as working time. That the berry pickers do a lot of other things, such as fishing, visiting flea markets and taking long breaks.
However, the pickers themselves are said to have told that they did nothing but drive out to the forest and pick berries.
But both berry pickers that SVT spoke to and Ransäter’s CEO believe that the pickers want to work as much as possible when they are in Sweden. But the Swedish Work Environment Authority points to the law.
– In Sweden, we have legislation that you need to comply with when you stay and work in Sweden, says Gitte Larsson.