Examination of Agricultural Occupations: Assessing Risks and Wages
In a groundbreaking move, the PECO Institute and the IG BAU trade union have conducted a nationwide survey focusing on employees and apprentices in animal husbandry and breeding in Kreis Lippe, Germany. The survey, which is backed by the Robert Bosch Foundation, aims to shed light on the working conditions in this sector, a topic that has long been overlooked.
The survey, open until September 14th and available online at www.peco-ev.de/allgemein/onlineumfrage-unter-beschaeftigten-in-der-tierhaltung-und-tierzucht, has revealed several key issues.
Physically Demanding Labor, Long Working Hours, and Insufficient Rest Periods
Many workers in the animal husbandry and breeding sector face challenging and often poor working conditions. The physically demanding nature of the work, combined with long working hours and insufficient rest periods, has been a recurring theme in the survey responses.
Low Wages and High Job Insecurity
The survey also highlighted the issue of low wages in the sector, contributing to financial stress among workers. Furthermore, seasonal and temporary contracts are common, leading to unstable employment and high job insecurity.
Health and Safety Risks, Lack of Proper Social Protection, and Exploitation of Migrant Workers
Workers frequently encounter hazardous conditions, including exposure to harmful substances and the risk of injury. Additionally, many employees have limited access to health care, insurance, and other social benefits. The survey also revealed that migrant labor, which constitutes a significant portion of the workforce, often experiences worse conditions and less legal protection.
The Need for Improved Regulation and Enforcement
The survey underscores the necessity for stricter enforcement of labor laws and better support systems for workers. Sabine Katzsche-Doering of the IG BAU Ostwestfalen-Lippe encourages participants to share their working conditions in the stable, emphasising the importance of their voices in driving change.
The survey, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, covers working conditions, wages, workloads, and job satisfaction, and investigates whether employees have enough time to properly care for animals and the level of workplace pressure in the stable. Participation is open to agricultural workers in Kreis Lippe who deal with animals daily. The survey is conducted by a research team from the PECO Institute, which is associated with the trade union, and is completely anonymous.
These findings underscore the critical need to address labor rights, ensure fair treatment, and improve working environments in animal husbandry and breeding sectors in Kreis Lippe and across Germany. If you would like more detailed information about specific aspects of the survey, feel free to ask.
- The survey, which focuses on employees in animal husbandry and breeding in Kreis Lippe, Germany, has revealed that many workers face physically demanding labor, long working hours, and insufficient rest periods.
- The research also indicates that low wages and high job insecurity are common issues in this sector, contributing to financial stress among workers.
- Workers often encounter health and safety risks, lack proper social protection, and are sometimes exploited, particularly migrant workers who comprise a significant portion of the workforce.
- To address these concerns, the survey suggests the need for improved regulation, enforcement of labor laws, and better support systems for workers in the animal husbandry and breeding sectors.
