Together with LTO Arbeidskracht, Glastuinbouw Nederland wants to help greenhouse growers find good and motivated seasonal workers. They do this through the Seasonalwork.NL platform. On March 16, consultants from the European network of employment services EURES will get to know Dutch greenhouse horticulture better.
Due to the energy crisis, many greenhouse gardeners have temporarily or temporarily reduced their work last fall and winter. As a result, they have had to say goodbye to experienced and motivated employees at all levels of their workforce. This is a deep solution.
Now that spring is approaching, most of these greenhouse horticultural companies want to start growing again. For this, and at a later stage for harvesting, they require a lot of labor. Greenhouse manufacturers will be looking for new international employees in the coming months. “And this despite the fact that for many years there has been a structural shortage of workers for both year-round work and seasonal peaks,” says Jacqueline Kroon, labor policy specialist in greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands.
Glastuinbouw Nederland and LTO Arbeidskracht have joined forces to meet the concerns of greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs. They want to jointly help recruiting companies through the Seasonalwork.NL platform, it brings supply and demand together.
EURES consultants get a good idea of the possibilities of Dutch greenhouse horticulture
On this platform, Dutch agricultural employers can post jobs that are translated into English, Polish, Romanian and Ukrainian. In addition, it provides a database with resumes of approximately 3,500 people interested in (temporary) work in the agricultural sector from all EU countries. ‘After a successful recruitment process, the candidate is in most cases hired directly by the relevant company,’ explains Yvonne van de Ven, manager at LTO Arbeidskracht.
Campaign
In March, Glastuinbouw Nederland and LTO Arbeidskracht launch a greenhouse horticulture campaign. ‘We want to inform our members through the Glastuinbouw Nederland and LTO arbeidskracht communication channels about seasonal job opportunities.NL,’ says Corona. ‘The platform is one channel through which greenhouse horticulture companies can find new international employees.’
Van de Ven explains that LTO Arbeidskracht also cooperates with EURES, the European Employment Services Network. On 15, 16 and 17 March, EURES consultants will visit the Netherlands to learn more about the agricultural sector and in particular greenhouse horticulture.
“On March 16, we will inform them about the events and activities of Seasonalwork.NL,” says Van de Ven. “And we explain to them what we are doing in terms of good employment, fair mobility and sustainable employment for foreign workers,” adds Krohn. In the afternoon, the company visits a greenhouse horticultural company in Haaren, which satisfactorily uses Seasonalwork.NL.
Unique story
During the meeting, EURES consultants will be able to assess opportunities in the greenhouse horticulture sector, as well as adjust and change existing perceptions of greenhouse work and employment opportunities for foreign employees.
In addition, they gain an understanding of the wide range of functions in greenhouse horticulture in the areas of production, technology, ICT, marketing, sales or logistics, and as managers, as well as learn about the levels (mbo, hbo and university) of functions and training options. But above all, they can see with their own eyes how beautiful this sector is.
’The history of Dutch greenhouse horticulture is unique: we produce healthy, fresh and sustainable food and contribute to the happiness and health of society through flowers and plants,” says Kroon.
She believes that it is essential that EURES consultants can communicate this story well to foreign employees, because they know potential applicants and can interest them in greenhouse horticulture. “To do this, they need to have a good understanding of the opportunities in the industry and the basic requirements that applicants must meet.”
Van de Ven takes it as an important signal that the two LTOs will work together to allay the concerns of members of the Dutch greenhouse horticulture association. – With seasonal work.NL we have a great tool for matching supply and demand and we would like to bring it to more attention in greenhouse horticulture ’.
