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Anti-Racist Workplace Week - Irish Farmers Journal - 4th November 2006
Satisfaction in Drangan
Racism on Farms, published in the "Irish Farmers Journal" – November 2006
Occasionally, the issue of racism in Irish farming raises its ugly head.
Racism can take many forms, ranging from harassment, paying below the minimum wage, offering and charging for unacceptable living accommodation etc.
Whether we like it or not, immigrant workers are now essential players in Irish farming. Ask any of our most progressive farmers if they could continue in farming without the assistance of their foreign worker and the answer will usually be an emphatic “No”. Indeed the horticulture industry is also heavily reliant on migrant workers. Therefore, it is vital for the ongoing progression of all farming enterprises that Ireland maintains an image of being a welcoming place to live and work.
Farmers must acknowledge the cultural and language differences for these migrants, and should imagine themselves or their own son/daughter going to live and work in a strange land, and how they would like to be treated. Since starting to bring foreign workers to Irish farms 6 years ago, I am glad to say that the standards of working conditions and living accommodation have greatly improved. This is because the better farmers are acutely aware that in order to get and retain a good foreign worker, they must provide a welcoming workplace with good facilities, comfortable accommodation and of course proper pay for the hours that are worked.
Many Farm Solutions Ltd clients realise the importance of “going that extra mile” to make life better for their foreign workers who are vital cogs in the wheel that is their farm business.
One such farmer is John Ryan from Drangan, Co Tipperary. Last year, John approached me with regard to sourcing a suitable worker for his expanding dairy farm. After interviewing Przemyslaw Klepacz, a 27 yr old farmer’s son in Poland, I felt he was a good choice. Przemyslaw arrived in January and quickly adjusted to his new life. He was helped in no small way by the ongoing support of John and his family. From the 1st day, they appreciated the difficulties faced by Przemyslaw, who (like many others) in effort to better his family’s financial circumstances, had left behind a wife and 5 yr old daughter in Poland, to work on a farm in Ireland. 10 months later, Przemyslaw has been home to Poland 3 times, and will go again for Christmas.
On the Ryan farm, the work is divided into monthly, weekly and daily tasks. John allows for the preferred needs of Przemyslaw, and not just his own or the farm’s needs. Forward planning means that holiday times can be agreed and flights booked. Farmers should bear in mind the value placed on getting a cheap flight home (sometimes < €100 return to Poland, Hungary etc). Involving the worker in the planning makes him feel an integral part of the farm, and not merely somebody who is roared at a few times a day as if they were a dog.
Przemyslaw is, and feels like one of the family. Meeting him recently at our stand at the Ploughing, where he attended with John, it was obvious that this was one migrant worker who has no awareness of racism in Irish farming. He has nothing but good to say about his life in Drangan and is already looking forward to the next calving season on the Ryan farm, something which gives John Ryan obvious satisfaction for a job well-done by all parties.