Employment relationship
Seasonal agricultural work and picking of natural products
Picking of natural products in Finland
There are various legal relationships for picking natural products:
- as a seasonal worker, in which case a company employs the picker
- under the Berry Act, in which case the company organises the picking but is not an employer (see page Picking of natural products under the Berry Act)
- independently under everyone’s rights, without any other party organising the picking – the picker handles both the picking and sales of the berries.
The terms of employment for seasonal agricultural work apply to seasonal work carried out under an employment contract, for example on berry, fruit, and vegetable farms. The terms of employment also apply to the picking of wild berries and other natural products, if done under an employment contract. They also apply to support and maintenance personnel at the bases of natural product pickers. For these jobs, the employers must comply with the collective agreement for rural industries and labour legislation. The collective agreement is universally binding, i.e. it applies to all employers in the sector. Read more about the employer’s obligations in labour legislation on our website.
The terms of employment are available in the Hermes mobile app
The employment terms for the agricultural sector area available in the Hermes application in Finnish, Swedish, English, Ukrainian and Russian. The employment terms for employment in the horticultural sector are also available in Vietnamese.
The Hermes app is free of charge and intended for agricultural and forestry workers and employers. It includes information on the rules of working and life in Finland. Learn more and download the Hermes app.
Links to other websites
- Exploitation and discrimination against foreign workers. Victim Support Finland.
- Every foreigner has the same rights at work as Finnish citizens. Short animated films about employees’ rights in Finland in 16 languages. Victim Support Finland.
- Working in Finland, brochure in 24 languages. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
- Seasonal work. Finnish Immigration Service.
- Current situation in Ukraine: Residence permits and seasonal work. Finnish Immigration Service.
- Work Help Finland mobile application. Ministry of the Interior.
- Seasonal Work Helpline. Advisory service for seasonal workers. Victim Support Finland.
This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for?
The short address for this page is tyosuojelu.fi/seasonal-work