French farmers rely on workers from Eastern Europe

It is surprising to hear Polish being spoken in the middle of a field in the Lanhouarneau countryside. Aged between 26-56, Michal, Konrad, Kamil, Anna and the 6 others have come straight from Poland. They each plant about 12,000 bulbs daily. Their employer, Eric Porhel, is far from the only person to employ help from the East. The 61 communes in Morlaix have around 6,000 job seekers, but the ''Pôle Emploi cannot supply a workforce to us 500 producers, it is what the system wants'' says Mr Porhel.

Mr Porhel only needs help with planting bulbs one month of the year, as the harvest is done mechanically. So he and other producers called on Terra Compétences, an employment agency specialising in temporary work, placements and national and European recruitment.

Mr Porhel underlines that the ''Polish employees work on my farm under the French regime, with a seasonal contract''. They are paid €8.10 net/hour, compared to €3 in Poland. He also comments on working conditions which include ''7-8 hours work a day (5 days a week) split up by 3 breaks for coffee, tea, bread and pancakes.'' They lodge in chambres d'hôtes which were renovated 4 years ago and are close to the farm.

''We don't have work at home. So we are happy to come here'' says Michal. Mr Porhel says that ''they work just as well as French workers: neither more nor less.