Picking for Europe: The harsh realities of migrant farm workers | DW Documentary

[@SkepticalTeacher]

Thanks to the farmer for being honest and speaking openly about the financial problems they have in breaking even, never mind making a profit.

[@Jill_MA]

Imagine how bad their home country must be for them to prefer this life.

[@alcapone6796]

Many worker shortages in Europe can be solved if more nuanced immigration policies were implemented.

[@sagarart2633]

High chances that situation of their home country is due to colonial past

[@geoms6263]

@@sagarart2633 France alone earns about $400-$500 billion annually as colonial tax from 14 former colonial countries in Africa. These countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon Using the CFA franc system, France controls the monetary sovereignty of 14 nations, making up nearly 200 million people.

[@sagarart2633]

@@geoms6263 🥲 and no one has issue with this unfortunately.

[@NicolasHaufe]

​@@sagarart2633yeah lets Just blame everyone else and Not Take any responsibility

[@antoniadelarua6471]

The majority of us consumers want everything very cheap, so to be competitive and make huge profits, supermarkets exploits the farmers, and the farmers have to get the cheapest labour possible. we the consumer never ask, how is it possible that fruits and veg is so cheap, this the price these migrant farm workers pay, so we can enjoy cheap produce

[@anonymousanon5390]

And there is nothing wrong with that. The fact that these migrants give the farmers this option, makes the problem their responsibility. If the farmer didn't had that choice, he wouldn't be able to make it. Simple as that. Those who sells the cheapest sells the most.

[@macc240038]

Cheap where ?

[@LitoM-j6i]

Stop tax evasion. Stop 21 Century slavery. Please just give these people a decent living

[@alexxx7066]

Jajajajajaja what about thier corrupt countries governments? 😂

[@anonymousanon5390]

Just give? Lets raise taxes for tax payers to give to them, how about that? Lets introduce migrant support tax and call it MST tax. We will make it mandatory, and you would be expected to pay for them to live a decent live. Agree?

[@bogdanalexandru7858]

They come to Europe, they have to make their own way.

[@D.ThirumalaikumarKumar]

​@@bogdanalexandru7858soon they will rule europe like aryans ruling india.

[@freespirit489]

Hats off to SOS Rosarno.. You show truly business ethics is not all that difficult to adhere to! Wish every employer would follow suit n be more humane to thr needy deprived ! Lets all put put some soul in our foods on table by ensuring ethical business n supporting companies who toil hard to achieve this without miss, everytime

[@somerandomfella]

That's how all businesses should operate. Profits after all costs are considered.

[@somerandomfella]

Farmers exploit their workers, supermarkets exploit the farmers. Just charge consumers a price which includes a fair wage. Most people won't mind. Or imagine forcing companies to put on their labels how much their workers get paid.

[@nxo91]

@DW should also interview those big companies like Unilever and Nestle.

[@JoshuaTrinityWolf-dc4up]

I have gardened at home in Canada for 35 years and lost money every year. I can do much better going to a market and looking for a deal. The farmer that broke down the TRUE cost of is honest and a real businessman.

[@CR-rm4iy]

many of them even speak in a local European language. This is astounding that they learned given the conditions.

[@ErnestoSun]

Super Arbeit. Auch richtig gute Kamera-Shots dabei. Inhaltlich zum schämen für mich als Konsumator

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers on this channel to engage with topics in English so that both DW and the community have the chance to respond. For further information, please refer to DW's netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G Thanks for watching!

[@AninaSabry]

1:15:45 kudos to this man who treat fair for hia workers may ur business increase more so u can help more in need

[@edgardobenitez8378]

Workers work hard and should be given the right daily wages and must not be exploited. But all boils down to money and profits for the farm owners, suppliers, and supermarkets. This is modern-day slavery. 😮

[@sagarart2633]

DW - how about labour in chin@ ? How about Indian labour situation and living condition in Dub@i ?

[@D.ThirumalaikumarKumar]

So happily ignore about BJP/rss rule exploitation of farmers, working class, factory workers, unorganized sectors workforce etc.

[@zeeshanahmed3513]

That farm owner in the last has my respect 💯

[@albeca7591]

I have never seen the xenophoboic right extrem asking for the legalization of these people, whose work is key for us to affort fresh fruits and vegetables. BYW, congrats for the great report,DW!

[@9and12wholepizzas]

"It's okay if migrants still live in poverty because I get my fruit for 1$ instead of 4$"

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Incredible documentary

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for your constructive feedback! :-)

[@LeonidasSthlm]

Regulate away these problems. The farmers should organize to oppose the corporations that are controlling the market. This is not sustainable at all.

[@thomasduggan8755]

Best wishes from Manchester Old England great show everybody keep up the good work ❤️😎 Cheers

[@freespirit489]

Biting truth of low, wage workers their exploitation is a harsh reality every country including mine!

[@butchfajardo8832]

All of us who work for someone is a slave.

[@HealthyCriticism2000]

No; this kind of system was in place before our birth.

[@alexxx7066]

But some slaves like in less corrupt countries 😂

[@sagarart2633]

@@alexxx7066 actually developing countries have access to corruption in ground level, but in developed countries only elite and top govt offcrs enjoy corrptn 😐 that’s difference

[@sly274]

You can't work in a vacuum you need some human being around you ; You can work under or above

[@butchfajardo8832]

@sly274, if government will design a 6-hour work for one day and be paid well, it can happen! But you will be called stupid in the business world!

[@NDHS1990]

I’m European and I think that these people should have a chance to stay permanently since they work so hard contributing to the European economy.

[@user-vd1vz6fj7x]

If all these people could get similar jobs in their own countries and earn enough money to live with their families, they wouldn't have to take such risks abroad. Their countries need to be rebuilt for their own people. Then there would be no pickers in rich countries and would start picking the fruit by themselves.

[@lorrainec8190]

I agree. They should build themselves up for their own country and people and not be used by "other's" to exploit and get rich off of.

[@sly274]

I DO NOT THINK IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS KIND OF HOUSES: FARMING JOBS IN AFRICA ARE RESPECTED BECAUSE IT IS THE SOURCE OF FOOD; IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING A PROFIT, IS RESPECT TO HUMANITY

[@DWDocumentary]

Hi, we encourage discussion on all our documentary topics, but we kindly ask our viewers to please remain respectful and stick to our netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@michaelnielsen1262]

0,7 EUR for 1Kg. I pay 4,14 EUR per Kg. here in Denmark. So transport and retail needs 3.44 EUR per kilo?

[@travelerexperience]

They said 0.15€ it's the transportation, maybe to Denmark 0.60€. But still

[@renegroulx7029]

I've seen pretty much the same documentary on this channel except it was about Tomatoes.

[@KashifKhursheed-ng1vk]

Fear and faithlessness leads to this behavior...consumption, stoking etc.

[@echohunter4199]

What this bleeding heart “documentary” isn’t telling you is that for EVERY known crop that farmers produce there are mechanical planting and harvesting machines. These have been available for decades but farmers prefer the high profit margin of using cheap labor instead of investing or renting equipment. Farmers will always do what’s cheap as possible for numerous reasons and only a small fraction won’t be able to afford to purchase this equipment. Many farmers will cooperate with each other to spread the cost or they can rent specialized equipment. If the farmer has access to cheap immigrant labor, they’ll use it. If not, he’ll simply use machinery and just a few people to operate them.

[@aryaman05]

Why not ? The immigrants want to be useful to their host society and farmer is making good use of affordable resource, what's so wrong about it ?

[@AlphaDogLXIII]

Clearly someone with no actual farming experience.

[@9and12wholepizzas]

​@@aryaman05it's akin to slavery paying them 2$ an hour. Idk how you see nothing wrong with paying people basically nothing for 12 hours manual labor

[@aryaman05]

@@9and12wholepizzas If the concept of opportunity cost works for EU, it should be just as valid for the rest of the world. Why did the immigrant cross lush jungle and hottest desert to get here ? To contribute his productive labor in exchange for payment, which labor would have amounted to zilch back home anyway. Sentiment/emotion has its slot, time and space, stop winding it up when it's least needed or useful.

[@echohunter4199]

@@AlphaDogLXIII lol, okay bud, whatever you say. Thrill and amaze me by just looking into what I said, it’s all verifiable.

[@zedianerkatwishi3930]

You will never see anyone from my beautiful and peaceful "South Central African country" trekk on foot through the Sahara desert to go europe and become slaves

[@rachidahrouch2550]

نصف المهاجرين يأتون من هناك ويوجدون بأعداد هائلة في شمال أفريقيا وهم مصدر ازعاج هائل وعنصريين عليهم العودة الى اوطانهم

[@Cholulasmom]

Giuseppe is the only one I actually believe!

[@AninaSabry]

the inequality behind supply chain it alwaysss start from the bottom: the exploitation

[@gamingbigfilipp]

Greece mentioned 🙌🙌

[@alexxx7066]

Talk about these people corrupt governments 😂

[@anonymousanon5390]

I will go to the store and buy olive oil, oranges, berries and strawberries and will eat them with appreciation knowing what it takes to get them there. Just to be clear, illegal border crossing has a consequences and these people should know that.

[@nisarahmad8419]

Who made border crossing illegal? Citizens from the Schengen area can commute freely, but why can't Africans, Asians, and the likes? It's discriminatory laws like these which allows exploitation of migran workers to happen.

[@nanabujukwame4908]

illegal border is just a word corned by humans. They can decide to change their status easily, but issuing ordinary paper documents and they'll instantly become legal workers. Of course, illegal workers don't produce illegal foods. Humans are weird.

[@anonymousanon5390]

@@nisarahmad8419 "Who made border crossing illegal? Citizens from the Schengen area can commute freely, but why can't Africans, Asians, and the likes?" The answer is in the question.

[@nisarahmad8419]

@@anonymousanon5390

[@nisarahmad8419]

My question isn’t actually about “who.” If wealthier nations are going to treat individuals from Asia and Africa as “third-world” citizens by denying them legal entry for reasons that seem justified only to them, then statements like “illegal border crossing has consequences” ring hollow. Instead of blaming those who, out of desperation, choose unauthorized routes into Europe, these countries should take responsibility for their actions. Exploiting the poorest and most vulnerable populations, while simultaneously restricting their legal avenues for migration, creates a system where the unfortunate are forced into untenable choices. The onus should be on these nations to address the systemic injustices that leave people with no safer alternatives.

[@sushmarai36]

we may feel sorry for them but they are at least safe and independent with the present life. people have different stories and we only know very less.

[@gianhs8]

this is because they are low skilled workers, the farmers that work their own fields and take all the risk like unpredictable weather, changing prices, wild life damages, high input cost are paid even less

[@renegroulx7029]

TRACTORS. CORN. POTATOES. Theres no way of harvesting these fruits mechanically, so they have to "exploit" the workers.

[@kunaltiwari2445]

This documentary is good depiction of the failure of both the countries, where these migrants belong and then where they are employed. Developing countries don´t have shame as they are failing in providing decent jobs to their own citizens triggering migration and then in developed nation they look for cheap labors whereas their own citizens remain unemployed and then blame illegal migrants.

[@anonymousanon5390]

Think like businessman. If you have a choice between employing workers from your country that will demand 50 euros per day to do the job and people from other country that will do the same job for 20 euros, who would you hire? The fact that these farmers have this choice ruins everything. So yeah, at the end of the day, illegal border crossing harms the economy.

[@uszebr]

In Nepal they also charge for literally everything. Mountain trip.. city center entrance fee... And they stop and charge people based on skin color.. only who is not looks local

[@tanujSE]

Well I have already waited too long and all my hope is gone -The Smiths

[@saragomes6242]

Eu nunca vi ninguém a fazer a mesma reportagem com os emigrantes portugueses, espanhóis, e mais tarde com os emigrantes da Europa de leste,quando vão trabalhar na agricultura nos países europeus, que também trabalham nas mesmas condições,é só hipocrisia

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers on this channel to engage with topics in English so that both DW and the community have the chance to respond. For further information, please refer to DW's netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G Thanks for watching!

[@michaeldelin3988]

I feel there is blood everywhere.. even though it looks pretty..blood sweet and tears..

[@AninaSabry]

54:04 😢 feel sad for this man if its easy for them to go to portugal why not in due process where ur paper is legal where u have can get the rights and benefits also his mindset is he thinks living abroad is that so easy 😢very typical village thinking this kind of mindset is easy to be scammed for surw

[@Just_reactors]

Please one video on Balochistan issue. The region is going through a genocide era.

[@TheStockwell]

There are already thousands of videos about it. Why does DW Documentary need to make another one - because you want them to? 🤔

[@geoms6263]

What genocide? Muslim countries live in harmony and peace with each other and with the fear of Allah

[@Just_reactors]

@TheStockwell because the way they highlight the truth is just amazing

[@guyfainberg4035]

this is what they signed up for you come to europe and they give you a job

[@greyvirus444]

Noooooooo I have to work now.....They feel me like a slave now.

[@guyfainberg4035]

@greyvirus444 they feel me like a slave now💀💀💀

[@awkwardperson329]

They know that still does not make it right these people are being treated nearly like slaves. 😬

[@guyfainberg4035]

@awkwardperson329 if they escaped into Europe that means that back in the country they came from they're were treated worse

[@jzero4813]

4:05 - Lavoro per la gloria. Because nobody wants to pay more for an orange.... ...except the guy's customers at 1:15:37, I guess.

[@AninaSabry]

50:44 sad reality that ur family and relatives back home actually most of the people in the society thinking people who work and live abrod has eay life and living laviciously that there is no hardships and sufferings if only they knew

[@albeca7591]

This is where we have to invest, not war.

[@freespirit489]

Worldwide there has, to be a, way to cap individual wealth.. One can keep it may be 5 million USd beyond that wealth tax for helping extreme poverty struck population can be uplifted.. But the market dynamics will again create new poverty.. There is only enough for living.. Not for greed . Govt nmust take care of health education n housing...

[@Scrooge1Percenter]

The Alternative? Stay in their country and make 0 Money?

[@AninaSabry]

if ur not a SKILLED WORKER and go for a ILLEGAL PROCESS GOING TO OTHER COUNTRY PLS. DONT HAVE TOOOO MUCH HIGH HOPES THAT U CAN LAND EASILY IN A NICE LEGAL PAYING JOBS ESP. IF U LOAN MONEY IN UR HOME COUNTRY TO PAY THE EXPENSES ON MIGRATING COZ 99% SURE U WILL GET DISAPPOINTED BY THE RESULT WHEN U ARRIVE AT THE COUNTRY UR DREAMING OF i hope this documentary serves as a lesson to everyone whose planning to migrate or work overseas

[@DWDocumentary]

Hi, we encourage discussion on all our documentary topics, but we kindly ask our viewers to please remain respectful and stick to our netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@awkwardperson329]

These people are living in extremely poor conditions, you can not be for real.

[@lie188]

before i watch... i'm guessing human trafficking or Employment. let's see 😶

[@freeflowtrader]

I actually have this idea of separation of currency based purchase markets to something that doesn’t make ends meet but sometimes more important than money. Farmers get priced out, they also do. What if we just do exchange of goods rather than money. There’s countless donation of clothes, daily essential goods, if they ever have some left or with a quota why don’t we just ask if some of the sectors that are important but doesn’t make any money, instead of buying 30 dollar shirts on Amazon or 15 dollar shirt on temu aliexpress, just have these shirts, because sometimes these money let’s say goes into third world countries it will probably depreciate 10% a year anyways. Even if migrant workers work in the Europe they still need to sent money back. Compared to junk money might as well ship stuff in mass quantity back to their village, by doing so we can cut down on waste, right now all the rich people or big corporations are thinking about how not to waste money, not a lot of people are thinking about how to prevent material waste. Also in a sense it builds logistics, which is first step in regional prosperity 😏

[@freeflowtrader]

Look your entire day work load is equivalent to 3 shirts and 2 pots for cooking a nail polish for your wife back home and few can of condensed milk for your children. It will be shipped and your wife will get it in the end of the month. I think 2 pot nailed it, But first gotta make sure the country doing this don’t have domestic citizens taken up all the donation stuff😂 categorization needs A.I, also government needs to be smart about contacting, which food banks or donation charities are willing to prepare these stuff and giving out lists(preferably using A.I because hiring one more person is like 500k per few year of cost include food banks and charities cost they’re quite expensive) Imagine charity be like:”we have all these stuff, you guys pick and choose, if fine if you didn’t get your stuff you wanted you can ask for money, wait for next time. We just wanted to get rid of these stuff so it’s not being wasted.”

[@jeffhatmaker817]

I guarantee that picking crops in Europe is like Disneyland compared to their lives in their native country. Otherwise, they would return to their native country.

[@TheLocalDank]

This logic makes no sense, I’m sure there’s a lack of money and opportunity in their native countries but to say it’s like Disney land because they prefer money and a chance to grow and make something of themselves is just ignorant

[@jeffhatmaker817]

@@TheLocalDank I made a relative statement COMPARING their native country to Europe. I worked as a civilian in Afghanistan, Djibouti and several countries in Africa. I have seen extreme poverty upclose. Most people who comment on these matters have never seen real poverty and simply don't know what they're talking about (no disrespect intended)..

[@kabengwajoseph7463]

Colonialism was challenging but they stayed and looted us. .. our people stay to survive. Don't play the victim card

[@WambedeDickson-wr7gk]

Extreme poverty exits in Europe as well ​@@jeffhatmaker817

[@rauhallinen2926]

I hope you live on their shoes on your next life

[@sirensynapse5603]

Better eat organic. :)

[@iii___iii]

Vegans be like 🙈🙉

[@anonymousanon5390]

The meet industry doesn't have migrant exploitation. Vegans be rage quiting.

[@josemarta8243]

This title must be a joke ... they are there for a reason ... they choose to be there .. what would they be doing in their home country ... what opportunities do they have ... at the end of the day this will allow them to give theyre fam a fighting chance

[@9and12wholepizzas]

How when they can't afford a place to live and food with the wages? You are blind to the issue

[@MirmeciaSubversiva]

Islamist channel selling the inmigration propaganda 😂😂😂 What can go wrong?

[@fspg3207]

Ugly capitalism.!!!

[@freespirit489]

Atleast they r much better off with 6-7 euros per hour wages when in their own country they have to live with one euro a day.. Getting job in such dire times is still better. The max chunk of profits is kept by corporstions but again tbey are the investors n have employees on roll... World always vhas been severely unequal n it will always be like that... It takes a lot almost one life to come out of destitution.. Sometimes even one life is not enough good enough.

[@9and12wholepizzas]

Yeah but the cost of living is higher, why do you think they live in a tent?

[@rlbrown]

Boop

[@morriselee]

Hi Europeans, do you like immigrants? No? Okay, can you guys take over the 1 million farm jobs? Pay is too low? Okay, unions and government can force farm owners to increase the wage to a "livable" wage. The consequence? Your grocery expenses will be up 55%. Can you take this? It is up to you all.

[@geoms6263]

we can use machines but human capital is cheaper at the moment. We don't want you to pay more at the supermarket either. Thank you for your understanding

[@xena2559]

Is this blackmail to welcome immigrants? If so, heck with them, definite no no. I will buy less.

[@NicolasHaufe]

60% of cri minals will Go away? Yes please

[@KonsaiAsTai]

Guilt tripping doesn't work anymore. That strat became ineffective with the 2015 patch.

[@maxplanck9055]

No need for this,it’s redundant, hydroponics can supply food and cash crops without any human labour, this looks like a foolish stunt, a 1930’s style misuse of labour ✌️❤️🇬🇧 where’s the coal miner complaining about working conditions?

[@tuforu4]

They are not STUPID.

[@echohunter4199]

This is just another propaganda piece to make people think that all other races are victims of something yet they leave out little details and facts like there’s planting and harvesting equipment for every known crop, and I mean EVERY crop and tree that produces edible food. Cheap labor equals more profit for the farmer but the moment you turn off the cheap labor tap, all farmers will work together to get the needed implements to harvest their crops, they can either group purchase things or rent as needed and the cost will be minimal and they won’t have to worry about having enough workers when the time comes. Most farmers already do this but the goal of this video is to make the uninformed believe that workers are victims and we need more of them….blah, blah, blah. Liberalism; find a cure. Lol.

[@anonymousanon5390]

I need my Vitamin C. I don't care how it was picked or what it took to get this oranges.

[@iii___iii]

Reported

[@anonymousanon5390]

@@iii___iii For what? For telling the truth?

[@iii___iii]

@@anonymousanon5390 How dare you make a mockery of human trafficking and labour abuse? This is a clear violation of community guidelines. Someone needs to do something about you 😠

[@geoms6263]

@@anonymousanon5390 i can bring you an avocado 😧

[@geoms6263]

@@iii___iii pls stop it. Those people are treated worse in their countries of origin. Anyway, soon the machines will take the work of people and you won't have reasons to complain anymore.