With figures from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment's database, it can be calculated that in May 2024, full-time persons with foreign citizenship accounted for 38% of the total number of full-time persons employed in the industry group "agriculture, forestry and fisheries". Most of the migrants employed in agriculture are from Ukraine and Romania. But since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Danish farmers have also started to hire interns from countries such as Vietnam, Uganda, India and Tanzania.

The project is called "Migrants' safety in agriculture" and is funded by the Working Environment Research Foundation. MANTRA has been in charge of the project together with the agricultural research company SEGES Innovation.

"In the project, we have investigated the safety practices of both owner farmers, as well as Danish and international workers, on Danish farms. In connection with the project, we have conducted 67 interviews with migrants, employers and interest groups and identified two main issues," says Johanne Korsdal, project manager at MANTRA.

"Based on our studies, we can conclude that migrants face special security challenges in agriculture, and that employers and managers have communication and managerial challenges. The challenges can affect safety," says Astrid Stampe Lovelady, research project manager affiliated with both Aarhus University and SEGES Innovation.

Security challenges affect both employers and migrants
The study indicates that migrants' challenges are primarily due to language barriers, cultural differences, sometimes precarious conditions and a lack of knowledge of Danish security procedures. There is currently a lack of systematic initiatives that effectively communicate safety and health rules to migrants.

Likewise, employers and managers may experience problems motivating migrants to follow safety measures. According to the project, this is often a result of a lack of cross-cultural management skills and knowledge of the employees' backgrounds.

New security calendar as a solution
To meet the communicative challenges, the project has developed a safety calendar in collaboration with migrants and agricultural companies. The calendar, which focuses on cattle farming, has 12 themes – one for each month – with discussion questions and video material available via QR codes. It could potentially be used as a model for other farms and industries that employ large numbers of migrants. In addition, the project comes with six recommendations to strengthen safety in agriculture

Six recommendations to strengthen the security of migrants in agriculture:

1. Systematic introduction to security – A mandatory course for all migrants who come to Danish agriculture can ensure that everyone has the necessary knowledge of the safety rules.
2. Better cooperation across the agricultural value chain – Joint action between agricultural stakeholders can improve safety standards.
3. Increased visibility of online tools – Better availability of occupational health and safety material via e.g. mobile applications.
4. Focus on internationalisation – With increased recruitment from African and Asian countries such as Vietnam and Uganda, potentially new working environment and safety challenges should be taken into account.
5. Involvement of key people – The spouses of the owner-managers and the younger generation can play an active role in the prevention efforts.
6. Work environment as part of professional pride – Safety should be embedded in agriculture's transformation towards increased sustainability.

For more information, visit Migrant Safety in Danish Agriculture.
 

Contact

Johanne Korsdal Sørensen, Project Manager
MANTRA, Department of Anthropology
School of Culture and Society
Aarhus University
Mail: jks@cas.au.dk
Mobile: 2130 1787

Astrid Stampe Lovelady
Special Consultant
Working environment
Management & Economics, Innovation
SEGES Innovation P/S
Mobile: +45 2464 4736
Mail: assl@seges.dk