Greece Launches Platform for Hiring Egyptian Seasonal Workers in Agriculture

As of June 10, 2024, employers in Greece can now submit applications to hire Egyptian seasonal workers in the agricultural sector through an electronic platform available on the website of Greece’s Migration and Asylum Ministry. This development follows a recent agreement between Greece and Egypt, established in May, aimed at addressing labor shortages in various fields.

The agreement anticipates the recruitment of 5,000 seasonal workers from Egypt by 2024. Greek media outlets report that Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis announced that a list of 2,400 skilled Egyptian seasonal workers has already been prepared in cooperation with Egypt’s Ministry of Labour.

"Greece’s cooperation with Egypt in immigration matters is also of strategic importance. Following my recent visit to Cairo, the activation of the electronic platform signals our will to immediately implement the agreement, signed in 2022 by the then-foreign minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, for up to 5,000 Egyptian seasonal land workers, to cover primary sector gaps," stated Greece's Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis.

The bilateral agreement also introduces two changes to the permanent transfer procedure. Firstly, the 5,000 worker positions are available across the entire Greek territory from a common “reservoir” and are allocated by one-stop services during the processing of the request. Secondly, the joint pool of candidate workers, from which employers can select, is formed and proposed by the Egyptian side according to criteria set by the Greek authorities (Ministry of Rural Development and Food).

In 2023, the Greek government announced plans to create new laws to update the residence permit process. These changes aim to provide legal status to nearly 30,000 irregular migrants, requiring them to prove three years of residence and employment in Greece to qualify.

In March, the European Union unveiled a “strategic partnership” with Egypt, including a €7.4 billion deal to curb the flow of migrants from North Africa to Europe. Egypt, with a population of 106 million and limited foreign investment, faces economic difficulties that have driven more Egyptians to seek opportunities abroad. Human rights groups have criticized Western support for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who rose to power a decade ago after leading the overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected leader.

By fLEXI tEAM