“There were and are enough seasonal workers,” Harald Schaum, deputy federal president of IG BAU, clearly expressed himself and criticized operational practices in individual companies.

Schaum strongly rejects allegations that the federal government should enter into broker agreements with third countries in order to additionally acquire harvesters from Ukraine.

He sharply criticized exploitative practices at selected local companies. Seasonal workers continue to work illegally and, in some cases, get significantly lower than the minimum wage, says IG BAU Deputy Chairman, urging employers to distance themselves from unprofessional enterprises.

A union leader points to the growing difficulties of companies in obtaining qualified permanent staff. One reason is that "agriculture has only recently emerged from the low-wage sector."

For young new workers, good rural infrastructure is also important today. “How do you want a young, well-educated person to work in the countryside, when there is no fast Internet, poor mobile communications, no elementary school, no baker, no doctor and butcher, and, moreover, poor transport connections?”, Summed up Shaum.