Russia´s Ukraine attack results fewer seasonal worker applications

Seasonal workers submitted significantly fewer applications than last year, said Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in a press release on Thursday.

Every summer, thousands of foreign workers work on Finnish berry and vegetable plantations and farms. Many seasonal workers have come to Finland especially from Ukraine.

A total of 4,456 certificates for seasonal work have been issued this year, of which 4,242 to Ukrainian nationals.

Last year, 13,870 certificates for seasonal work were issued, 13,287 of them to Ukrainians. Most certificates for seasonal work are issued every year during the spring and summer.

“The number of submitted applications has been less than one third compared to last year. The Russian invasion of Ukraine obviously affects the number of seasonal workers, since the majority of them are Ukrainians,” said Pauliina Helminen, Director of Permit and Nationality Unit.

The majority of seasonal workers come to work in Finland for a short period in the summer. They apply for a certificate for seasonal work from the Migri that can be used for 90 days in Finland.

Those who work longer than this apply for a residence permit for seasonal work.

The number of residence permits for seasonal workers is also decreasing. A seasonal work permit for work lasting 3–6 months has been granted to 692 people between January and June. The number was 1,619 during the stipulated period of the previous year.

In addition, 262 permits have been granted for work for a duration of 6–9 months, which was 403 last year.

“Seasonal workers most commonly apply for a permit for picking cultivated berries. Of course, seasonal work is also carried out in other sectors and throughout the year, including holiday destinations and fur farms in the autumn,” said Helminen.

Meanwhile, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 32,776 applications for temporary protection have been submitted in Finland. By 13 July 2022 and 31,284 decisions have been made on the basis of the applications.

“Ukrainians who have applied for temporary protection can work freely in Finland. Some of them are very likely to have also found employment on farms,” said Helminen.

About 68% of persons applying for temporary protection are adults, and 20 153 of them are of working age.

About 75% of the applicants who are of working age are women.