Seasonal workers in floriculture
Planting
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Potting / repotting / planting
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Moving plants (indoors or outdoors)
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Pruning/binding
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Weeding
Harvesting
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Harvesting and internal transport
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Sorting and packing
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Preparing for sales: labelling and loading
Region in Flanders:
Ornamental plant cultivation is spread across Flanders, but the strongest concentration can be found in East Flanders, mainly in the Lochristi - Wetteren area. Mainly pot plants are grown in the Lochristi area, e.g. azalea. In the region around Brussels, there is a concentration of the cut flower sector.
Period of the work: Activities throughout the year:
Specialties: location and period of peak work
Azalea
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Period: May - June
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Region: Ghent
Bedding plants
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Period: February - May
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Region: No specific concentration
Chrysanthemums
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Period: October
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Region: No specific concentration
Cut flowers and flowering houseplants
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Labour peak depending on holidays
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Region: No specific concentration
Green houseplants
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Period: not specific, depending on actions in the trade
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Region: No specific concentration
Profiel
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No prior knowledge or studies required.
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Flexible and motivated.
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Suitability for (often) repetitive physical work: work such as potting and repotting plants especially requires a good physical condition .
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A sense of accuracy: an eye for quality and safety.
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Stick to rules and agreements - follow work instructions.
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Working in a team.
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Working with people from other origins/countries.
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The work is done in the open air or in a greenhouse.
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You will arrange and pay your transport to Belgium.
Offer
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This concerns employment as a seasonal worker (SW).
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In 2022, 100 working days are allowed.
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This concerns day contracts.
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The minimum hourly wage in 2022: € 10.59 gross/hour.
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It is very important to carefully follow the producer's instructions!
Working hours in the horticultural sector are normally 38 hours/week
Seasonal workers work with day contracts
More hours can be worked in season: up to 11 hours /day and up to 50 hours /week
All hours worked are paid at the normal hourly wage
Seasonal work form
There is a seasonal work form for seasonal workers on which the days of seasonal work are noted. Seasonal workers can keep this form during the season.
Lodging
In many cases, the employer provides accommodation. The accommodation must meet certain standards (floor space, heating, sanitary facilities, etc.).
The employer may charge a monthly rent for the stay in the lodging. Prices of rent can be different, depening if general costs ( water, electricity, internet, ...) are included in the rent or not.
Agreements on this should be made at the start of the season.
Registration with the municipality
You must be registered as a seasonal worker with the municipality where you are staying. The municipality will issue you with a residence document.
You will also get a social security ID number (or a BIS number) in Belgium.
Social security declaration
The benefits are declared quarterly to the social security authorities in Belgium.