Pascal Meiser, the employment policy spokesperson for the Left faction in the Bundestag, has sharply criticized the inadequate health insurance protection available to foreign seasonal workers in Germany’s agricultural sector. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Meiser stated that approximately 50,000 foreign nationals work on German farms and fields every summer. Of these workers, about 40,000 are not covered by statutory law but instead rely on private insurance, usually through private group plans. Meiser warned that the protection offered by these private plans is significantly weaker.
Critiquing responses from both the Federal Government and the Knappschaft-Bahn-See, the parliamentarian described the situation as “shameful” insisting that tens of thousands of people must continue working in the German agricultural industry without sufficient healthcare coverage. He pointed out that in the event of illness, these worker are either medically undersupplied or bear prohibitive costs.
Meiser emphasized the urgent need for full statutory health insurance coverage for all individuals working in Germany. “German asparagus, German fruits, and German wine should no longer rely on a second-class job market” he added. He stressed that outdoor agricultural work, especially in extreme heat, poses particular health risks. Furthermore, he argued that instead of addressing the problem, both the CDU/CSU and the SPD exacerbated the issue by significantly extending the period during which seasonal workers are not fully socially secured.
He concluded by labeling this approach “irresponsible” suggesting that the government’s actions once again demonstrated a lack of genuine social democratic commitment to ensuring increased protection and respect for all workers in the country.