strwaberry picking job

KIPKEMBOI KURGAT · Post by **KIPKEMBOI KURGAT** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:01 pm

Vilppula Strawberry Farm needs strawberry pickers (about 120 people) for the summer 2009. The farm is situated in southern Finland, at Asikkala, near Lake Päijänne, the centrum of Vääksy and the City of Lahti. The picking season normally lasts from 5 to 8 weeks (between 10.6. - 10.8.). The picking season varies according the harvest. The length of the picking workday (contract work) varies (5.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.) 0-10 hours a day. Self-catering accommodation with modern conveniences - kitchen, bathrooms, sauna, etc. Please, send the application directly to employer by end of the February. Late applications are also considered. Contact: - work2009.mansikat@info - http://www.mansikat.info/
Geographical Information
Country: Finland Region: Päijät-Häme
Salary / Contract
Contract type: TEMPORARY + PART-TIME
Extras
Accommodation provided: Yes
Requirements
Employer
Name: Vilppulan mansikkatila
Address: Vähä-Äiniöntie 23,17320 ASIKKALA
How to apply
Yhteystiedot: - work2009.mansikat@info - http://www.mansikat.info/
Other Information
Date published: 09/02/2009 Nace code: 01
National reference: 7165829 ISCO code: 611
Number of posts: 120

**Sponsor:**

Solty · Post by **Solty** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:45 pm

Hello everybody! I've been a reader of this forum for quite a while but never thought about writing anything. But this post got me very concerned. I even decided to register here to be able to reply for it. Luckily this story does not involve my personal experience but 2 of my best friends, who were working on PARTICULARLY THIS FARM last summer. It was a total hell, they even had to quit job because could not handle that any more. First of all, the "comfy accommodations" was one huge room, separated into sections with tiny walls. There were about 100 people in that room. And 3 woman showers for about 50 people.
Boss of the farm was total £$€¤%&, for every tiny mistake people had to pick strawberries for free. For example, if they would happen to see you eating a berry or would notice that you missed a berry in your row, then they canceled payment for the basket. Once, there was an inspection checker in the farm, and boss told to workers that if they would complain anything, they would be immediately thrown out of the farm.
This place was mainly oriented for foreigners who does not speak Finnish, and sometimes even English (a lot of Russian and Ukrainians). They treat people like slaves.

The only reason I wrote this comment now, is because I feel very sorry for those people who came to work there, thinking about getting some extra money, and getting terrible life for 2 month. I do not want to say anything bad about picking strawberries in general, just this farm. For example, my friends, after almost 2 weeks being in this hell, had found an other farm and changed the job. They had only positive comments about the second work place and even had a nice income.

This is just last year's experience, maybe these people had changed their attitudes towards foreigners working for them, but personally I doubt that.

Gentility · Post by **Gentility** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:53 pm

I am new to Filand and has heard much about strawberry picking.From Solty's post, the job doesnt sound so good except the Farm manager at the particular farm he referred o has changed their attitude.
nevertheless, i would like to know more about strawberry picking in Finland and other locations of Farms (maybe where your freinds finally went to) where strawberry are grown.For us students,it could keep us busy durig the summer breake.
Thanks,i await you reply

kristiina001 · Post by **kristiina001** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:24 pm

Solty wrote:Hello everybody! I've been a reader of this forum for quite a while but never thought about writing anything. But this post got me very concerned. I even decided to register here to be able to reply for it. Luckily this story does not involve my personal experience but 2 of my best friends, who were working on PARTICULARLY THIS FARM last summer. It was a total hell, they even had to quit job because could not handle that any more. First of all, the "comfy accommodations" was one huge room, separated into sections with tiny walls. There were about 100 people in that room.

In Every room stay 12 people max.

And 3 woman showers for about 50 people.
Are you sure??

Boss of the farm was total £$€¤%&, for every tiny mistake people had to pick strawberries for free.
Its not true, nobody, never pick strawberries for free in that farm...

For example, if they would happen to see you eating a berry or would notice that you missed a berry in your row, then they canceled payment for the basket.

AGAIN one big lie..... you can eat so much as you want..

Once, there was an inspection checker in the farm, and boss told to workers that if they would complain anything, they would be immediately thrown out of the farm.
I have one question?? People dont speak finnish, us you said, which language boss use to talk with them

This place was mainly oriented for foreigners who does not speak Finnish, and sometimes even English (a lot of Russian and Ukrainians). They treat people like slaves.

The only reason I wrote this comment now, is because I feel very sorry for those people who came to work there, thinking about getting some extra money, and getting terrible life for 2 month. I do not want to say anything bad about picking strawberries in general, just this farm. For example, my friends, after almost 2 weeks being in this hell, had found an other farm and changed the job. They had only positive comments about the second work place and even had a nice income.

This is just last year's experience, maybe these people had changed their attitudes towards foreigners working for them, but personally I doubt that.

PS!!! I know alot of people who work on that farm 4-5 years and will come that year again!!!

Pavel82 · Post by **Pavel82** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:31 pm

I am really agree with Solty. I do not know you personally.
I work this farm last summer! It is the most awful time in my life.
The managers of this farm are just impolite and rude to the workers. The house, where we live was awful. We had maximum 12 people in the room it is true, but you can not call it a room. It was big house, separeted by small wall. And i actually live on the second floor of that palace...so there were about 30 people there. I do not know if it can be call a room. But for directors i think it is a room. Actually they do not care as they live in the separate house.
We had to work from 4 in morning till 6 sometimes in the everning. Even if the weather was bad! We did not have any lunch break or something. If we go to eat, the baskets with strawberries were not counted, what we have picked before.
Also the managers of the farm ask workers to pick up more strawberries then it acctually was agreed.We had to pick up 3 kg in the basket, but it was much more then this!!!!!! The manager (by the way Kristina was her name) said to pick up with the big hill. And this basket weighed even more then 5 kg. But when you collected less, then they cancell the whole basket!!!!!
Once there was a accident, when a my friend picked accidently bad strawberry, and a manager threw it back to his eye!!!!! Is it ok for Finlnad???
The bosses spoke russian. and many people, who work, do not speak any english or finnish. it is true there was once inspection in the farm. I can write exactly what boss said to us before this: "If you want to go with yor complaits, you go back home tommorow home without payments"!!!!!
I could not stay long there as well. But it was a bit hard to find another work immediatly in summer, because you have to agree before. But i manage to find another one after some weeks! I must say,t he second one was paradise, compared to the first one!
People dont go to that farm!!!!!!! Kristina is the name of the boss, i think it is her to say that it is lie!!!
Best regards Kristina
and hope no one comes to work for you this year!!!

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:07 pm

report this to police or to tabliod?

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:09 pm

This whole post sound shady...
first a job offer and then many people just register to complaint and promote ( with only 1 post each)..and no response..

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:24 pm

Sounds like what we had in th wrmy - so what is the complaining about?

Solty · Post by **Solty** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:16 am

what's shady about all these? personally i registered here in the forum to tell my knowledge about this "workplace" so that others would be aware. And it seems that ppl from the company saw the comment and decided to react

KIPKEMBOI KURGAT · Post by **KIPKEMBOI KURGAT** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:57 pm

Hello all,
I just liked the way people had negative thoughts about the Strawberry Farm in question.This is a warning Sign to Kristiina and all other strwberry Farm stakeholders that they will have the strawberries lotting in the firms if they do not change their way on how they treat foreign farm workers.Who happens to be the main workers in their Farm.
I have aften wondered .In Finland to secure even a cleaning Job you need to speak Finnish even if the Finnish supervisor can speak English.However when it comes to Job like Stráwberry picking you do not need to speak Finnish and to make the matters worse you Find Boses of such Farms do not have Good english using sign language to communicate to workers. Another Job is Delivery Job (MAINOKSIA) this job is hectic and most underpaid Job in Finland and yet you do not need Finnish Language
From these two examples you will all agree with me that Finland employers use language excuse as a way to discourage foreigners. and while for the jobs that the finnish people are unwilling to do the language is exempted.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:26 pm

so why did you post the advertisement for the farm in question?

Jason Wright · Post by **Jason Wright** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:15 pm

raamv wrote:so why did you post the advertisement for the farm in question?

Good point raamv!

I guess this post will now serve as a warning for potential strawberry workers.

Rogi · Post by **Rogi** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:26 pm

Good day, i am interested if i can apply for the job. Please contact me if You still visit this forum.

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