Greece moves to implement deal for 5,000 Egyptian farm workers
Greece has begun implementing a long-delayed bilateral agreement with Egypt that will allow up to 5,000 seasonal agricultural workers to be employed legally in the country’s farming sector, as labor shortages continue to affect rural regions.
According to Christos Giannakakis, a board member of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, the recruitment process is already underway. Around 150 candidate workers have been submitted to Greece’s Decentralized Administrations, while approvals have been forwarded to the Greek Embassy in Cairo for screening and interviews.
Agricultural sector seeks relief from worker shortages
The initiative is aimed at addressing persistent labor gaps that have affected key agricultural products, including peaches, cherries, olives, kiwifruit and citrus fruits.
Producers and cooperatives across Greece have repeatedly reported difficulties in securing sufficient workers during harvesting periods, creating pressure on agricultural output and operations.
Giannakakis said the agreement, signed about three years ago, is now entering its implementation phase, with more than 36 employers already expressing interest in participating. The number of workers could be increased in the future if labor demand rises.
Strong interest from Egyptian workers
Recent meetings in Cairo between Greek and Egyptian officials focused on practical arrangements, including worker recruitment, employer coordination, travel procedures and cooperation mechanisms. Egypt’s deputy labor minister participated in the discussions.
Greek officials view Egypt, with a population of more than 110 million, as an important source of agricultural labor. Egyptian workers have shown strong interest in legal employment opportunities in Greece, where agricultural wages are significantly higher than those available at home.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), “The objective is for workers to come through an organized and regulated process rather than irregular migration routes,” Giannakakis said.
The agreement is expected to provide a structured solution to labor shortages in Greece’s agricultural sector while creating legal employment opportunities for Egyptian workers.
