Afrucat, the Catalan Fruit Business Association, has created a job bank, given the response it has been receiving since last week, when the entity warned of the likely lack of laborers to work in the next fruit campaign due to the consequences of COVID-19.
Manel Simon, CEO of Afrucat, says that "initially, we created an email address and gave our phone numbers to receive requests from workers, but due to the hundreds of responses, we have been forced to improve the management of this information and we have created a database restricted to our associates. We are in a high alert situation that can affect the cherry harvest, which is starting in two weeks, and which could take a toll on all stone fruit crops."
Afrucat is also granting access to this database to job placement companies, which usually manage the search for workers for field work. This is done through a document that formalizes their operation and preserves the right to data protection of those registered.
Simon says that "we are receiving applications from potential workers with different profiles, including people in an irregular situation. The regularization of those people would allow us to have the 35,000-40,000 extra workers we need for the next campaign without violating the mobility restrictions of workers between countries."
School buses to take workers to the field or to the plants
Afrucat is currently working with the Delegation of the Government and the Subdelegation of the Central Government, as well as with the Department of Education and the County Councils, in order to be allowed to use the bus service that these entities had contracted for the transport of schoolchildren.
These buses would allow the mobility of all personnel in fruit companies, both in the field and in plants. Field workers often travel together due to either not having a driving license or not owning a vehicle.
At this time, the legislation establishes that a maximum of two people can travel together in private cars to their workplace in the agro-food sector. In other vehicles, including vans or minibuses, only occupy one third of the capacity may be used.
For more information:
Afrucat
Edifici Espai Fruita, C/ Corregidor Escofet, 64
25005 Lleida - Spain
Tel.: +34 973 220 149
administracio@afrucat.com
www.afrucat.com