Seasonal workers

• Only if you come from an area where new strains of the coronavirus have been detected (areas of variants of concern) will you need proof of a negative PCR test that may not be older than 48 hours at the time that you start your journey.
• As of 10 June 2022 there are no areas that are defined as areas of variants of concern.
• You do not need any other coronavirus-specific documentation (vaccination, convalescence or test certificates) to come to Germany.
• Please check the travel portal (Einreiseportal) for any changes before you travel.

• No. A quarantine requirement no longer applies at present.

• You will not usually need any vaccination, convalescence or test certificates.
• In some areas, however, you must wear a surgical face mask or respirator (FFP2 mask), for example on buses or trains.

• For the best protection at work, keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres from other persons.
• You should wear a mask (FFP2) if you cannot keep that distance or if you are indoors with several other persons and bad ventilation.

•  If you test positive for COVID-19, you will then be subject to the local rules on isolation and you must self-isolate in your accommodation, stay there and not meet other people.
• The isolation period lasts 10 days in general. After five days at the earliest and if you have been free from symptoms for 48 hours beforehand, you can get a second test (PCR or certified rapid antigen test). If you then test negative for COVID-19, you are allowed to leave the accommodation again.
• Please ask your employer what you specifically need to consider.
• If you become sick with COVID-19 and cannot work, you will continue to receive your pay – at least if you have been employed for at least four weeks.
• If you are already fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognised in Germany, you will also receive compensation in the first four weeks.
• You will have to continue to pay for your accommodation as a rule.

• If you are covered by health insurance in your home country and have an A1 certificate, you are thereby also covered for your seasonal work. Please take your European Health Insurance Card with you.
• If you are an employed person subject to compulsory social insurance in Germany, you are also covered in case of illness.
• If you are employed on a short-term basis - which is possible for up to three months or 70 days - you are not automatically covered by health insurance.
• As of 1 January 2022, you must have health insurance cover as a seasonal worker.
• If you are not covered elsewhere, your employer will normally take out a private group health insurance policy for you. Your employer bears the costs in most cases. If your employer fails to do this, you must both agree to this beforehand.

TIP: Please make sure you find out about your health insurance status before entering Germany.

• Please remember to have a paper version of your employment contract with you, if you have one!
• As a harvest worker, you are, in principle, subject to German labour and occupational health and safety law. For more information in your language for example about how much may be charged for your accommodation see:  www.faire-mobilitaet.de/landwirtschaft
• The minimum wage has been EUR 9.82 gross per hour since 1 January 2022. It will be raised to EUR 10.45 on 1 July 2022 and to EUR 12 on 1 October 2022. Piecework wages are possible, but at least the minimum wage must be paid for each hour worked in the respective month.
• We recommend that you make a note of your contacts and the number of hours you worked every day.

•    You need to report the accident to your employer.

•    If the accident happens at work, the agricultural accident insurance will cover treatment costs and possible follow-up costs.

• As a seasonal worker, you can also get vaccinatedfor free in Germany.
• Given that vaccine protection is only valid two weeks after full vaccination, we recommend that you get vaccinated in your home country before coming to Germany.
• To be vaccinated, you must either take your signed work contract or a certificate from the employer, and also your valid identity document.

The Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG) provides information and advisory services on health and safety at work free of charge for harvest workers (more languages available):
www.agriwork-germany.de/webapp-saisonarbeit/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxlml_AFHME&list=PLxhmJE7PYUHS8xUPRY9SddGgXntai9Dpg
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxhmJE7PYUHSx-0wGe8YJbol0-flgUQV-F
www.svlfg.de/auslaendische-saisonarbeitskraefte
www.svlfg.de/information-saisonarbeitskraefte
Hotline (in German): +49 561 78510010

The “Fair Mobility” (Faire Mobilität) project offers in-formation and advisory services on labour and social law for seasonal workers (more languages available):
www.faire-mobilitaet.de/landwirtschaft
www.fair-arbeiten.eu
​​​​​​​https://www.arbeitundleben.de/arbeitsfelder/beratungsnetzwerk
Hotline (in German): +800 0005780

To find the nearest advice centre from your location in your language, please go to:
www.eu-gleichbehandlungsstelle.de/eugs-en/eu-citizens/searching-for-an-advice-centre

The website and advice centres of "Fair Integration" (Faire Integration) are also available for seasonal farm workers from non-EU countries (more languages available):
https://www.faire-integration.de/en