The Finnish government released a set of instructions on Wednesday aimed at monitoring the safe entry of foreign seasonal workers for primary production, mainly in agriculture.
The list released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry includes instructions for employers and for the seasonal workers regarding health-secure entry, quarantine, testing and development of a health security plan.
As a general rule, a seasonal worker coming to Finland must be quarantined for 14 days before work on farms can begin. The alternative to quarantine is two negative coronavirus test results.
According to government information, the first coronavirus test will be taken at the border immediately after arrival in Finland, and the second no earlier than 72 hours later. If both tests are negative, the worker no longer needs to be quarantined after the second test result is ready, but can start working on the farm or in the forest.
Employers must inform workers in advance that they may not travel to Finland from the country of origin if they develop symptoms suggestive of coronavirus infection before starting the trip. If a worker develops those symptoms, the worker must postpone the trip and seek coronavirus testing in the country of origin.
“Ensuring the seasonal workforce without compromising health security is very important. By following the instructions now prepared, farms provide for the health security of both seasonal workers and the farm. In this way, we make sure that the work of the harvest season can be carried out normally even in exceptional circumstances,” says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.
A health security plan
In accordance with the Government Resolution of 4 February 2021, an enterprise employing seasonal workers from abroad must compile a health security plan. The plan requires that the workplace has a health contact person, appointed by the employer, who workers can contact whenever they have questions or problems related to health security.
In addition, the contact person must inform the municipal doctor responsible for infectious diseases at the workplace of the arrival of seasonal workers from abroad in the municipality, ensure that workers have face masks and hand sanitisers at their disposal, and must give workers instructions on hygiene and symptoms of coronavirus.
The contact person also takes care of implementing the entry-level quarantine and monitoring of the quarantine.
Government recommends to accommodate the seasonal workers in the smallest possible units, preferably in single rooms, so that even in the event of possible subsequent Covid-19 cases, the emergence of large chains of infection can be prevented and the viability of the farm can be secured.
