Seasonal workers in floriculture

Planting

• Potting / repotting / planting

• Moving plants (indoors or outdoors)

• Pruning/binding

• Weeding

Harvesting

• Harvesting and internal transport

• Sorting and packing

• 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

• Period: May - June

• Region: Ghent

Bedding plants

• Period: February - May

• Region: No specific concentration

Chrysanthemums

• Period: October

• Region: No specific concentration

Cut flowers and flowering houseplants

• Labour peak depending on holidays

• Region: No specific concentration
  
   

Green houseplants

• Period: not specific, depending on actions in the trade

• Region: No specific concentration

Profiel

• No prior knowledge or studies required.

• Flexible and motivated.

• Suitability for (often) repetitive physical work: work such as potting and repotting plants especially requires a good physical condition .

• A sense of accuracy: an eye for quality and safety.

• Stick to rules and agreements - follow work instructions.

• Working in a team.

• Working with people from other origins/countries.

• The work is done in the open air or in a greenhouse.

• You will arrange and pay your transport to Belgium.

Offer

• This concerns employment as a seasonal worker (SW).

• In 2022, 100 working days are allowed.

• This concerns day contracts.

• The minimum hourly wage in 2022: € 10.59 gross/hour.

• 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.