If the fruits of spring begin to arrive on the market shelves, it will still be necessary to wait to see the Charentais melons produced in France arrive. Producers, currently in the process of recruiting seasonal workers, are struggling to find labour for the harvest.
These jobs are physical and poorly paid, so they are less and less attractive to candidates. Indeed, for 35 hours of work, seasonal workers are paid at the Smic, with paid leave as a bonus. The phenomenon has been worsening for 10 years now, and it is impossible, according to producers, to increase wages. European competition would be too strong.
This reduction in labour means that market gardeners are beginning to voluntarily reduce the areas planted.
Producers are multiplying the methods of communication with Pôle Emploi to try to achieve their objectives. "We have launched poster campaigns in schools, we have made distribution flyers and Pôle emploi, helps us a little bit on communication for the recruitment of seasonal melon workers," explains Sandrine Bogers, a producer in the Vendée, who is looking to recruit 150 seasonal workers. "We make about 300 registrations because otherwise we are sure we don't have the 150 people. Last year, 30 seasonal workers were missing due to a lack of transportation or housing."
For Julien Godet, the president of the Haut-Poitou melon producers union the answer is, relaxing the labour rights of workers, allowing them to work overtime, for example : "When you find yourself in very hot weather, you have harvest peaks and as a result, you find yourself having to work longer and harder to cope with melon crops. It is true that it is tricky when you are not allowed to work overtime."
France produces 246,000 tonnes of melons every year.
Source: rmc.bfmtv.com