Blueberry picking in Serbia in 2025 is a significant physical challenge but also an opportunity for additional earnings. Pickers work eight hours a day and can earn around 3,500 to 5,000 dinars, with breaks and days off. The job is demanding due to constant bending and sun exposure, with the last two hours being the hardest due to muscle pain. Despite a reduced yield this year due to poor weather conditions, demand for pickers is high. Working hours are flexible and adjusted to weather conditions. Employers provide transportation, and pickers bring their own food. Although the job is strenuous, many consider it useful and a good source of extra income, especially pensioners and those needing additional support.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning reports emphasize the physical hardship and exploitation risks faced by seasonal workers, highlighting the low pay relative to the effort and the importance of labor rights and protections. They may also focus on the social aspects, such as the reliance of vulnerable groups like pensioners on this work for survival.
Center: Center-leaning coverage tends to present a balanced view, acknowledging both the economic opportunity that blueberry picking provides for additional income and the physical challenges involved. It highlights the flexibility of working hours and the practical aspects of the job, such as transportation and breaks.
Right: Right-leaning narratives often emphasize the entrepreneurial spirit and self-reliance of workers who take on blueberry picking as a way to earn extra money. They may focus on the positive aspects of the job, such as the opportunity for additional income and the understanding and reasonable employers, downplaying the hardships.
