During a recent meeting between Luxembourg's winegrowers and the Ministry of Agriculture, the government has committed to simplifying administrative procedures for hiring seasonal and casual workers, particularly in the areas of special crops and viticulture.
Minister of Agriculture Martine Hansen, accompanied by fellow ministers Martine Deprez and Georges Mischo, invited representatives within the viticulture sector to a first "winegrowers' meeting" at Senningen Castle this week.
The meeting also included representatives from Luxembourg's fruit and vegetable farmers, who participated in the discussions around the hiring of seasonal workers for the harvest.
Each year, between 800 and 1,000 workers are hired to help with the grape harvest over a period of 2-3 weeks.
"There are currently three different regulations in place, covering social security, work and finance," said Hansen. "Today, we have managed to agree on one regulation, which means seasonal workers will now be allowed to work here for up to three months."
The three ministers collaborated with representatives from the sector to address issues, with five ministries—agriculture, labour, social security, medium-sized businesses, and finance—represented. By the end of the discussions, the group managed to agree on a number of points to simplify administrative procedures, without compromising on social rights or security provisions.
The vineyard owners and farms in question will receive further details within a fortnight.
On 18 July, a job-day will be organised in Remich to raise awareness and inform workers in Luxembourg, including refugees awaiting official status.
Labour minister Georges Mischo said:
"For example, a Ukrainian refugee residing in a shelter in the country could participate. It's not about someone coming here from Ukraine to work during the harvest and then going back—if we have to follow this up, it will become expensive. This sort of penalty can easily cost up to €10,000 per person."
The meeting also resolved issues regarding vineyards in designated green zones, with plans now progressing towards a necessary legal framework.
