Three years after it was signed, a bilateral agreement between Greece and Egypt to legally employ up to 5,000 Egyptian seasonal farm workers is finally moving from paper to practice. The initiative, which aims to address chronic labour shortages in Greek agriculture, is being rolled out as demand for harvest hands outstrips supply across the country.
Christos Giannakakis, a board member of the Hellenic Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, confirmed that the process is underway. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, he said around 150 prospective workers have already been registered with Greece’s Decentralised Administrations, and the relevant approvals have been forwarded to the Greek embassy in Cairo for applicant checks and interviews.
The agreement covers work in orchards and fields producing peaches, cherries, olives, kiwis, and citrus fruit — crops that rely heavily on seasonal labour. More than 36 Greek employers have already expressed interest in participating.
Legal Pathways to Replace Informal Labour
Greece, like many southern European states, has long struggled to fill agricultural jobs, particularly during peak harvest periods. The deal with Egypt is part of a broader effort to institutionalise labour mobility and reduce reliance on undocumented workers. “The agreement that was signed about three years ago is now beginning to be put into practice,” Giannakakis said, adding that the initial cap of 5,000 workers could be raised if demand grows.
Preparatory meetings between Greek and Egyptian officials have focused on practical implementation: communication with workers, coordination with employers, transport logistics, and the mechanisms linking the two sides. Giannakakis noted that Egypt’s deputy labour minister took part in the discussions, underscoring Cairo’s interest in the scheme.
With a population exceeding 110 million and a relatively young demographic, Egypt is seen as a key labour source. Wages offered by Greek agriculture, though modest by European standards, are a strong pull for Egyptian workers. “There is strong interest on the Egyptian side in people coming to work legally in Greece,” Giannakakis said, emphasising that the aim is to meet market needs through legal and supervised procedures, not informal entry routes.
Flexible Deployment and Path to Longer Stays
A distinctive feature of the scheme is its flexibility: workers can move between regions and crops according to the seasonal cycle, from Macedonia and Halkidiki to kiwi- and citrus-producing areas. The maximum stay for seasonal workers is nine months, but after their first period of employment, they can apply for a longer-term permit valid for up to five years. In that case, they must leave Greece at the end of each nine-month stint and return after a three-month absence, without restarting the application process.
Beyond administrative procedures, attention is being paid to living conditions. Giannakakis highlighted the need for subsidy programmes to purchase ISO-box prefabricated units that could provide decent accommodation and basic hygiene facilities. “Living standards are a key factor both for protecting workers and for maintaining a stable and returning workforce,” he said.
Bureaucratic hurdles remain. Giannakakis acknowledged that “patience and effort” are still required, but expressed confidence that the system will soon operate more efficiently. The Hellenic Union of Agricultural Cooperatives sees the framework as a potential model for future agreements between Greece and other non-EU countries. European organisations are reportedly monitoring the initiative as an example of organised, legal labour mobility.
For Greece’s primary sector, the project carries dual significance: securing the workforce needed for harvests and establishing a stable, transparent employment system. The success of this scheme could shape how other EU member states approach agricultural labour shortages in the years ahead.
