Agricultural survey in the Günzburg district: What are your working conditions like?

Agricultural survey in the Günzburg district: What are your working conditions like?

In the Günzburg district, agricultural workers now have the opportunity to have their voices heard in a nationwide survey. The Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt industrial union (IG BAU) launched this initiative to better shed light on working conditions in animal husbandry and animal breeding. The online questionnaire, which is available at www.peco-ev.de/general/onlineumfrage-unter-beschaehafteten-in-der-tierzucht-und-tierzucht is available to all agricultural workers until September 14th.

What does the survey stand for? Lasting around 15 minutes, it offers the opportunity to openly discuss important topics such as working conditions, wages, stress and general job satisfaction. Michael Jäger from IG BAU points out the relevance of the survey, which aims to include the situation in the stables in the Günzburg district in the more comprehensive study. This project is supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation.

Challenges in the agricultural sector

The challenges for agricultural workers are diverse. In addition to the general workload, aspects such as occupational safety and working hours - including the frequent seven-day week - play a major role. In particular, the time pressure for caring for the animals is a central issue that the survey aims to take a closer look at. As IG BAU notes, the number of people employed in agriculture is increasing, while at the same time the burden is increasing.

Christian Beck from IG BAU emphasizes the importance of this survey and announces a comprehensive report. In addition, participants will have the chance to win one of the fourEngelbert Strauss vouchersworth 50 euros each, which is certainly an additional incentive to participate.

A look at the agricultural market

According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, there are currently around 876,000 people employed in agriculture in Germany, of which around 55% are employees. Of these, 243,000 are seasonal workers, although a decreasing trend can be observed. At the same time, however, the number of permanent workers is increasing. The labor market in the agricultural sector is characterized by a high proportion of seasonal workers, and the overall age structure of the workforce is older than in other sectors. bmleh.de reports on the challenges that agricultural businesses face: the change in agriculture, the continuation of digitalization and climate change require adaptations.

Small and medium-sized farms in particular are at risk, while the trend towards large farms continues. However, these changes also require a completely new requirement profile for the training of skilled workers in agriculture.

The survey gives the sector the opportunity to express itself and draw attention to its own needs. The agricultural sector not only keeps food production going, but also represents an important basis for rural development. It is time for the voices of employees to be heard!