Farmers have been protesting in the south of France in recent weeks against the mooted removal of TODE, the exemption of charges for casual seasonal workers.
Didier Guillaume, a member of the Senate of France, representing the Drôme department, warned of the impact the move would have on farmers’ incomes.
“The removal of the exemption for seasonal agricultural jobs means the end of agriculture and small-scale agriculture,” he warned. “This measure is unacceptable. It is a monumental mistake.”
The FNSEA, the National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions, estimates that the measure, which will increase the cost of seasonal labour by €1.50 per hour, concerns 870,000 contracts, representing a net loss of €144m for farmers.
According to Les Producteurs de Légumes de France, the organisation representing France’s vegetable producers, the sector could lose up to €57m compared with 2017, Agri71.fr reported.
'For vegetables, the cost of labour represents 30-70 per cent of the cost of production,' said the organisation’s Céline Camgrand Vila.
Vila estimated the additional cost at around €189 per employee per month. “For example, for a farm employing around 30 seasonal workers for four months, this would be an additional €24,000,” she said. “This is not something that we will be able to pass on in the sales price.”
According to Marc Rauffet, president of French apple group Innatis, the move will affect all companies that use temporary seasonal labour.
“Of course, it will have a direct effect on revenues, as no one believes that we can increase the price of our apples,” he said.
Rauffet revealed that the only solution appeared to be further mechanisation. “We already do 70 per cent of the pruning by machine,” he said. “But the main use of temporary labour is for picking the fruit, and the sole solution to this is robot pickers.”
As a result of the measure, according to Rauffet, it will become harder to compete on international markets with common varieties like Gala, Golden and Granny Smith, although specially selected cultivars and brands like Honeycrunch, Juliet, Lollipop and Choupette will be better positioned to absorb the cost increase.
French President Emmanuel Macron has prioritised the modernisation of the country’s labour laws, but critics have suggested that the former investment banker is out of touch with the population.
A video of the president recommending to a young unemployed horticulturalist that he seek work in the hotel, restaurant or construction industries recently went viral.
“If I cross the street right now, I will find you a job,” Macron told the man.
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