The confession of seasonal workers: I never come to Germany again, even the world to give it to me

I will never come to Germany again. No vacation, no visit. And the world give it to me! Mariana Costea worked on a bavarese farm for two months. He could not bear any longer because of excessive working hours, severe conditions, unclean settlements, lack of provisions for protection from the Corona virus. “Scandal system”. With a minibus with eight seats coming in from 14 or 15 people and sent to the fields to work. In the evening they would return to their homes. Protection from Corona in Germany seems different, and this should apply to European workers.

Corona ʹa further evidence of the situation

Mariana Costea is one of many European workers who have come in recent weeks and months to work in Germany, but among the rare ones who talk about the situation openly in the German economy, in the meat industry, in mail services, in construction, in helping elderly or in agriculture. Labour Minister Horbertus Hale himself has often spoken of the serious situation in these areas in recent years: “Conona is like a burnt glass”, Heil said at a news conference in Berlin. “Now seeing things that are thought to be okay. ”

This “=x1> also speaks of Alex B. in the DW report. He'll remain anonymous. He's afraid of the possible consequences. Two years has been employed at Germany's largest meat factory, Tönnies: “They stole our hours. Instead of eight hours, counting 45 minutes off, we worked 10 to 13 hours a day. After this job, you're a psychic. ”

The “they have” they're subproposors who employ the largest number of European laborers. Romanian Alex B. He's got a contract with a sub-computer, an exclusive firm who's taken over some jobs in this factory. These workers are paid according to the subcontactors' terms. The responsibility for their condition is kept by these subsurgeons rather than by the meat producer.

Most employees are paid no hours but with the amount of work. And it can't be done in eight hours. A system for explosion, says Alex B. Anyone who opposes it will soon leave work. These jobs do not apply to work rules like in Germany.

Corona's protection has almost had none. Over 1500 of Tönnies' 7,000 employees in Rheda-Wedenbrück have resulted in positive tests of COVID-19, in early June. The Gütersloh region has entered Lockdown. Now the prosecution is investigating at the Tönnies factory and many subcontactors, if there were any violations of the law against infection.

Subposerators a Hard Network for Control

The subsurgeon system enables the employment of persons from eastern countries and the creation of a difficult network. Would it not be possible for a country like Germany to control these networks and workers engaged in this country? See the conditions they work on? Theoretically, says Marius Hanganu from the “Mobileät” project, in conversation with DW. He was born in Romania and is part of a German union engaged in improving the conditions of workers from Eastern Europe. He is responsible for conditions at the border and health entities. Controls are not always without problems, such as in Bhavari. He claims that such things have been ascertained during the Visias in customs. And customs say they are not aware of such problems.

The increase in cases of the Corona virus in the meat industry and in agriculture have forced politics to react. On January 1st, 2021, such contracts will be prohibited, meaning that such workers cannot be employed in the meat industry. Minister Heil has prepared a bill that must be passed in parliament. Hale has no answer why such measures are not approved for other parts of the industry. The minister says controls in other areas will be added.

Corona as a chance?

The situation in an agricultural enterprise in Bahari has reopened debate on problems in this area. In Mammming (near Strabing), some 170 of the 500 seasonal workers have been tested. The whole enterprise is in quarantine. Most employees come from Romania, and others from Bulgaria, Hungary and Ukraine.

Bavaria Prime Minister Markus Söder says the cause of infection is violations in the concept of maintaining hygiene and violating rules. As a result, it requires stricter checks “night” and unannounced””. If someone violates the rules he'll be punished with 5,000 to 25,000 Euros. While seasonal workers will be tested in Bavari, Söder said. But so far there are no restrictions in this region.

Corona can also be used as a chance to improve the system with workers from eastern countries for improving working conditions and living conditions. Alex B. He's convinced that things wouldn't change unless these cases of Corona infection had exploded. He says in the future he won't be willing to explode at work. /DW/