France Permits Entry for European Farm Workers
The Federal Council of France has decided to open its borders for agricultural workers in Europe, even though the country’s borders remain closed to other categories due to the Coronavirus developments.
All farm workers coming from European countries, who hold a valid working contract will be eligible to enter the country in a bid to help French farmers,
Regarding the issue, in March the Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Thanawat Tientsin, addressed governments with an urgent warning, as the Coronavirus has impacted the agricultural sector as well.
He expected the rising numbers of insufficiently nourished people to be aggravated as a result of the pandemic, “with the poor – notably the urban poor – people living in remote areas, migrant and informal sector workers, people in humanitarian crises and conflict areas, and other vulnerable groups likely to face the worst consequences”.
Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, France has followed the example set by other Schengen countries on the introduction of border controls, as part of the country’s efforts to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Contrary from other European countries, France decided to keep its frontier checks in place, until October 31.
The country also decided to impose two weeks mandatory quarantine for all persons coming from other countries, in a bid to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
Even though France’s government said that the decision would not include EU Schengen zone countries and Britain, the government soon clarified that the new rules of quarantine might affect the exempted places as well.
Amid Coronavirus developments, France decided to extend the state of health emergency until July 24.
Regarding the “countries at risk”, French authorities will soon establish a list with more information, according to the French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye.
However, the French Minister of Interior noted yesterday that he has agreed with his German counterpart Interior Minister Horst Seehofer to reopen the common borders by June 15, which restrictions have been put in place in a bid to contain the flow of the COVID-19.
