Finnish berry industry warns of labour shortage as Thailand changes visa rules

Finnish berry companies may face severe worker shortages this harvest season after Thailand introduced stricter visa procedures, delaying the arrival of some 3,200 Thai pickers, Yle reports.

Last year, foreign workers collected 75 percent of Finland’s commercially harvested wild berries, with the majority coming from Thailand. Under new regulations, Thai pickers must now apply for seasonal work visas in person at Finland’s embassy in Bangkok—a 500-kilometre journey for many from northeastern Thailand.

Previously, pickers travelled on standard Schengen visas without formal employment contracts. Now, companies must hire them under seasonal work agreements before visa applications can proceed. The Rural Employers’ Federation warns that appointment backlogs and limited daily slots at the embassy may prevent most applications from being processed before the season begins.

“These changes caught us completely off guard and came into force too late for us to prepare,” said Akseli Nevalainen, CEO of Pohjola Foods, which has recruited 160 Thai workers for this summer. So far, only 15 have managed to submit visa applications—none of which have been processed.

Tommy Gustafsson, CEO of Marja Bothnia Berries, called the situation “a catastrophe for both businesses and workers,” noting that many pickers rely on seasonal earnings from Finland as a critical part of their annual income.

Around 90 percent of Thai workers recruited by Finnish berry firms have prior experience in Finland’s forests, according to the Rural Employers’ Federation. With no time to find alternatives, companies fear unharvested berries and disrupted supply chains.

The industry, which includes roughly 770 businesses with a combined turnover of €780 million in 2020, warns that stricter visa rules may inadvertently fuel exploitation. “By making it harder for legitimate companies to operate, we risk pushing the market toward unscrupulous actors,” said Kristel Nybondas, the federation’s director.

Birgitta Partanen, head of industry group Arktiset Aromit, added that wild berries are increasingly used in high-value products like cosmetics and wellness items. “Entire production chains are at risk if berries go uncollected,” she said.