Kosovars with Austrian work visas remain in Kosovo

A large number of Kosovars, who regularly work as seasonal workers on Austrian farms, may not enjoy the right to work this year.

Around 220 seasonal workers from Ukraine arrived at Linz airport on Friday. They will mainly help pick strawberries. Austrian vegetable farmers want a similar opportunity for their regular workers from Kosovo.

But, Kosovar farmers have not yet been able to join the company they have a contract with this year, even though they have work permits. "They lack visas, because the Austrian Embassy in Kosovo is closed. Therefore, services from this embassy cannot be provided either," writes orf.at, according to Albinfo Austria.

The employers of the Kosovar farmers, who are from Eferding, a village in Upper Austria, say they are asking the Austrian Government to ease the measures for their arrival in Austria.

On the other hand, the government has promised that it is committed to creating facilities for seasonal workers to work on Austrian farms this summer.

As reported in the Austrian media, the salary of these seasonal workers is 1500 euros per month.