Seasonal Workers at White Asparagus Farms in Limburg, the Netherlands: Focusing on Recent Trends of Migrating Workers in Agriculture in the EU Context

Abstract

Labour movement from East to West in the EU has been conspicuous since the enlargement of the EU in 2004, as one of the destinations in rural regions that have labour shortage problems. Research on migrating workers in the agricultural sector has accumulated over recent decades. However, there is not enough research about temporary workers in this sector in the region. Thus, this paper focuses on regional integration and issues related to the regional disparity from a case study of an agricultural sector that fulfils labour shortage by employing seasonal workers. Northern Limburg is the most prolific asparagus cultivating area due to the well-drained soil and warmer temperature. However, only a small number of farms engage solely in white asparagus production because it is challenging a temporary and intensive workforce for the short period needed for asparagus harvesting. All farmers that cooperated with interviews in this study employ seasonal workers with a supervisor system. The supervisor system works well for farm owners and seasonal workers with supervisor positions. However, the system has almost no advantage for seasonal workers without a supervisor position. Unless the wage gap between the West and the East disappears, hard work with low wages will probably persistently remain under capitalism. Therefore, researchers have to pay attention to the movement of temporary laborers who suffer the most uncertain working conditions.