Policy responses

Agriculture and food processing and retailing have been included as essential activities in many countries as part of coronavirus-related measures.  Measures to open borders to agriculture and food processing workers, issue visas when needed and regularize undocumented migrant workers during the crisis could be taken.

Italy:  The government has extended the residence permit to non-EU citizens already living in Italy. Moreover, proposals have been advanced by civil society to regularize foreign labourers who lack residence permits, simplify agricultural vouchers to allow Italian students to carry out the work in the countryside, and temporarily employ in public works programmes those who were benefiting from the national cash transfer programme “Reddito di cittadinanza”. Employment agencies have started to facilitate the recruitment of those interested in working in the food and agricultural sector, often incentivized with the provision of board and lodging. According to the decree adopted in May 2020, thousands of undocumented migrants in Italy are allowed to apply to temporarily stay and work. The changes also seek to legalise irregular work in farms and homes. Moreover, employers who have irregularly hired either foreign or Italian workers in these sectors would also be able to apply to regulate their staff by stipulating a fixed-term employment contract. In March 2020, employment agencies have started to facilitate the recruitment of those interested in working in the food and agricultural sector, often incentivized with the provision of board and lodging.

Portugal recognized all migrant workers and asylum seekers with pending applications as permanent residents until at least July 01 2020, providing them with a temporary residency permit so that they could have access to health care services, welfare benefits, bank accounts, and work and rental contracts.

Spain introduced an extension of residency and work permits for foreigners in the context of the declared COVID-19 Emergency, which could lead to regularization pathways. Some countries have already extended migrant working visas, or amnesties and taken other steps to alleviate constraints faced by migrant workers and their families living in countries of destination (e.g., Bahrain, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, South Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates).

In the United Kingdom, the British Growers Association launched the campaign ‘Pick for Britain’ aiming to mobilize workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 lockdown. Efforts to attract the local workforce were complemented by a national campaign called ‘Feed the Nation’ in alliance with a group of labour recruiters.

In early April 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Interior in Germany agreed on the limited entry of urgently needed harvest workers from abroad. 80,000 seasonal workers from Eastern Europe were expected to enter Germany in April and May, up to 40,000 per month; and traveling to Germany by chartered planes and the government guaranteed that workers would be subject to strict entry and hygiene regulations to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading.

The Australian Government made temporary changes to visa arrangements to their seasonal work schemes to help farmers access the workforce they need to secure Australia’s food and produce supply during COVID-19. The Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme have allowed extension of stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers, who should also provide care and accommodation. Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) who work in agriculture and food processing will be exempted from the six-month work limitation and are eligible for further visas to keep working in these sectors considered ‘critical’, if their visas expire in the next six months.

In New Zealand, seasonal workers, engaged in picking and packaging horticultural and viticulture produce for local and export markets, will have their temporary visas automatically extended until 25 September 2020.

In the United States, the Department of State exempted all workers applying for H2-A agriculture visas, including new applicants and returning H2-A workers, from the in-person interview process, This exceptional measure aims to secure the supply of migrant workers in different states as requested by many farmers associations and growers.

The Republic of Tunisia suspended the expiration of visas from March 2020 until the end of the crises, declared that migrants are now eligible to receive financial or in-kind support, and called on landlords to postpone the rents for the months of March and April 2020.

Specific Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) guidelines for agricultural (and fishing workers) have been collected and made available at the following link: https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/COVID-19:_Back_to_the_workplace_-_Adapting_workplaces_and_protecting_workers (scroll down to first table, third column)

Kenya: the Ministry of Agriculture issued proposals to promote the sensitization of the food supply workforce to prevent panic and enable market functions in the long-run. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, food processors and handling facilities were to provide training on safety precautions, self-monitoring of symptoms and reporting mechanisms to their staff, subjected to regular health examinations. Associations should also raise awareness on safe storage of food commodities and COVID-19 strategies. 

Links and references

Italy: ANSA. 24 March 2020. Confagricoltura, bene proroga permessi di soggiorno a stagionali. Mondo Agricolo. [online]. [Cited 25 March 2020]. https://www.ansa.it/canale_terraegusto/notizie/mondo_agricolo/2020/03/24/confagricoltura-bene-proroga-permessi-di-soggiorno-a-stagionali_c1dd8d6d-3494-4031-aa41-1dda7db7bbf2.html; https://www.asgi.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/circolare_ministero-interno_18.pdf;

Canali, G. 29 March 2020. "Coronavirus, against exploitation regularize foreign laborers". La Stampa. [online]. [Cited 30 March 2020]. https://www.lastampa.it/economia/agricoltura/2020/03/29/news/coronavirus-contro-lo-sfruttamento-regolarizzare-i-braccianti-stranieri-1.38652858;

Benfatto, L. 19 march 2020 Coronavirus, l’appello di Openjobmetis: 1.000 lavoratori da reclutare nell’agricoltura entro un mese. IlSole24Ore. [online]. [Cited 30 March 2020]. https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/coronavirus-l-appello-openjobmetis-1000-lavoratori-reclutare-nell-agricoltura-entro-mese-ADga8GE;

Serrao, G. 28 March 2020. The idea of Confagricoltura: send those who take citizenship income to hoe. AGI. [online]. [Cited 30 March 2020]. https://www.agi.it/economia/news/2020-03-28/coronavirus-reddito-cittadinanza-zappare-terra-7948309/

Fouche, G; Heinrich, M. (ed.) 30 March 2020. Norway to admit non-resident Europeans working in oil, agriculture, easing some coronavirus curbs. Reuters World News [online]. [cited 30 March 2020]. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-norway-workers/norway-to-admit-non-resident-europeans-working-in-oil-agriculture-easing-some-coronavirus-curbs-idUSKBN21H2NB

Charles, D. 27 March 2020. 'Essential' Status Means Jobs for Farmworkers, but Greater Virus Risk. NPR - The Salt [online]. [cited 27 March 2020].  https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2020/03/27/821449729/essential-status-means-jobs-for-farmworkers-but-greater-virus-risk

The Local/AFP. 14 May 2020. Italy to grant residence to undocumented migrant workers during coronavirus crisis. The Local/AFP [online] [cited 14 May 2020]. https://www.thelocal.it/20200514/italy-to-grant-residence-to-undocumented-migrant-workers-during-coronavirus-crisis

Rubino, M. 13 May 2020. Migranti, il decreto varato consiglio dei ministri. Lamorgese. La Rebubblica [online] [cited 13 May 2020]. "Dignità a colf e braccianti" https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2020/05/13/news/accordo_migranti_pd_m5s-256471194/ 

Gender related links and references:

IASC. 2020. Interim Guidance. Gender alert for COVID-19 outbreak. IASC Reference Group for Gender in Humanitarian Action. (URL: https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/interim-guidance-gender-alert-covid-19-outbreak-developed-iasc-reference-group-gender-humanitarian)

Pros Measures increase availability of workforce for farms, and create alternative employment in agriculture for workers who lost their jobs in businsesses affected by the lockdown. They minimize the disruption of production and food supply and safeguard the new growing season.

Cons Given the level of dependency on seasonal workers there could still be a shortage of workforce, especially for tasks requiring special training and expertise. Many agricultural migrants continue working in indispensable services linked to the food sector. However, many work under informal or irregular arrangements, facing poor housing and working conditions, with no access to healthcare or social protection. They are more likely to be exposed to occupational safety and health hazards, and run a greater risk of contracting and further spreading COVID-19.

Minimum conditions Need for training/ upskilling and skills recognition of migrant workers and incentivizing new workers to work in agriculture. Acknowledging the role of seasonal migrant workers and embedding their contributions and high-dependency in national policy design. Personal protective equipment and related items should be distributed to all workers employed in indispensable services, including those working in the food and agricultural sector. Ensure adequate hygiene and sanitation is provided and physical distancing is respected at the workplace (e.g. fishing vessels, farms, fish/farm markets), in housing for migrant agricultural workers (when provided by employers or the state), and on the means of transportation required to reach the fields/workplaces in remote rural areas. Information and awareness-raising campaigns on how to protect oneself and others from the risk of infection need to be made accessible in languages and communication channels/formats that are understandable and accessible to all migrant workers. Kenya: Availability of heath and sanitation trainings and wareness on COVID-19 containment strategy for associations and personnel in the agricultural sector. Access to personal protective equipment, self-monitoring kits and sanitizing tools