OtelfingenEmpowering the Agricultural Worker: From Seasonal to Year-RoundMira Weingartner and Michèle Zeder

Otelfingen was a flourishing family farm village for centuries. Over time, the number of farms has significantly declined, while the remaining ones increased in size, thanks to the introduction of modern machinery and the employment of additional (non-family) workers. Today, the majority of workers have part-time positions—often as seasonal workers.

Swiss agriculture relies heavily on flexible and low-cost migrant labor, especially in fruit and vegetable production. Google Reviews of Swiss vegetable producers provide insights into the conditions of seasonal labor, which often prove to be precarious.

In Otelfingen, there is a significant dependence on seasonal workers, mostly Romanians, particularly for manual labor in berry and fruit production. They work on the fields, in greenhouses, and at sales stands for a few weeks up to several months.

Another farm in the neighboring village of Otelfingen specialises in growing fresh herbs. They handle all steps from planting to packaging internally and operate production facilities in Ticino and abroad to ensure year-round herb cultivation. The employees, mainly from Portugal and Poland, have long-term contracts due to the constant demand for labor, which improves their work situation.

To improve working conditions for farm workers on the berry farm (Case Study A), the proposal picks up on the findings of Case Study B and suggests creating year-round employment through the introduction of winter crops. With the introduction of a “Transformal Space” a space is created that can serve as accommodation for newcomers in the summer and transform into a classroom during the winter, aiming at enabling workers to create their own agricultural projects in their home countries.