The bilateral agreement between the government of the Hellenic Republic and the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on employing seasonal workers in the agricultural sector is now being implemented. Speaking to APE-MPE, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairides, stated that the first list of 2,400 Egyptian seasonal workers has already been compiled in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Labor. This agreement is aimed at promoting an alternative legal labor mobility corridor.

The agreement introduces a special procedure for bringing in third-country nationals for seasonal work in the agricultural sector. In its initial phase (year 2024), the procedure involves recalling five thousand (5,000) Egyptian seasonal workers.

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Key differences in this bilateral agreement compared to the permanent transfer process include a) the allocation of five thousand (5,000) worker positions across the entire Greek territory from a common “reservoir,” processed by one-stop services, and b) the creation of a common pool of candidate workers, proposed by the Egyptian side based on criteria set by the Greek authorities (Ministry of Rural Development and Food).

As part of the agreement’s implementation, the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum has developed an electronic platform for employers to submit applications. This platform will be available on the Ministry’s website starting Monday, June 10, 2024.

In his statement, Minister Kairides emphasized, “Greece’s cooperation with Egypt on immigration matters is of strategic importance. Following my recent visit to Cairo, the launch of the electronic platform reflects our commitment to swiftly implement the agreement signed in 2022 by the then Foreign Minister, Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, allowing up to 5,000 Egyptian seasonal land workers to address gaps in the primary sector. This cooperation focuses on combating illegal immigration and promoting a legal labor mobility corridor. The first list of 2,400 Egyptian seasonal workers has already been compiled in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Labour.”