Labour

Agricultural workers are crucial to food production. However, research on agricultural workers is limited, especially in Switzerland, where high wages attract migrant labour but hiring is constrained by migration policies. This project aims to improve the understanding of employment in Swiss horticulture. We will focus on the following aspects:

1. Labour matching. Many farms in wealthier countries struggle to find workers due to changing demographics, rising wages abroad, and stricter migration policies. This project explores the perspectives of workers and farmers on the hiring process. A holistic approach, currently lacking, is crucial for improving labour matching in European horticulture. Therefore, we conduct qualitative interviews with workers, farmers and experts.

2. Organic certification and working conditions. Organic certification may be a way to improve working conditions. While the impact of sustainability standards on farmers has been widely studied, their effects on workers remain unclear. Research has focused on physical health, but aspects like wages, working hours, and mental well-being are less explored. Our study will bridge this gap by comparing working conditions on organic (Bio Suisse & Demeter) and conventional farms using the Decent Work Index. 

3. Gender differences in income. Seasonal migration is vital for agriculture, but men and women may experience different economic outcomes. Women often earn less yet remit a higher share of their income. However, how gender shapes individual and household earnings remains largely unexplored in agriculture. Our project will analyse wage gaps, remittances, and household contributions among seasonal workers in Switzerland using Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to address this gap.