For years, raspberry farmers in western Serbia have been facing a growing problem – there are no workers to pick the raspberries! Once, students lined up for these seasonal jobs, but now? Now, pickers come from distant parts of Serbia, and even from India and Pakistan. Yes, you read that right – our farmers are bringing in foreign workers because locals simply don’t want to deal with the heat and hard labor of picking.
Alen Macura, a 21-year-old from Svrljig, says it’s not easy, but it’s bearable. They wake up at 4:30 AM, start picking at 5 while the sun is still mild. After a break and a meal, they continue until evening. Though the work is tough, the pay is “pretty good” – about 5 euros a day, which over twenty days of picking adds up.
Their employer, Goran Glavonjić, stresses that he tries to provide good conditions – quality meals, cold water, and breaks during the hottest hours. Still, the problem is the lack of local pickers. He tried hiring workers through an agency from Belgrade, even from Pakistan, but didn’t want to risk it because he wasn’t sure if they could handle the conditions or if he could communicate with them.
So, while farmers complain about the lack of workers, young people run away from the job, and foreign workers come to pick our raspberries for a daily wage of 3 to 5 euros. The pay is good, but who’s ready to sweat it out under the sun? This is the real drama of rural life and seasonal work – where have our pickers gone, and what will happen to raspberry farming if this continues?
What about you? Would you go pick raspberries for 5 euros a day? Or is it better to stay in the city and complain about jobs? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s up for a real work challenge!
