Kiantama monitors the responsibility of berry picking from start to finish

Kiantama’s responsibility work covers the entire forest berry supply chain, starting from the recruitment phase of Thai pickers. This is even more relevant now that the industry has moved to an employment model where pickers work as seasonal workers under a collective agreement.

In the new model, pickers are paid an hourly wage or a piecework pay and are entitled to a weekly day off and holiday compensation. Previously, pickers worked as independent collectors, but now berry pickers are employees of a subcontractor. Kiantama does not hire pickers directly but buys the berries from subcontractors who have hired the pickers. The pickers have a Finnish employment contract with all the rights and obligations that come with it.

Kiantama requires its partners to commit to responsibility guidelines, and audits operations during the season. The supply chain monitoring also includes an international responsibility audit, which examines, among other things, working conditions, wages and occupational safety.

A key part of the monitoring is cooperation with the Issara Institute. An independent third-party organization monitors the situation of the pickers before the trip, during their work in Finland and after their return to home. Pickers can provide feedback directly through mobile channels, which provide continuous information about working conditions.

The responsibility work already begins in Thailand, where training days are organized for pickers before leaving to Finland. The events review employment contracts, working conditions, safety, hygiene and Finnish operating methods. All the pickers participated in the training organized in spring 2026, and the signing of the contracts was supervised by local labor authorities. A representative of Kiantama was also on site to report on working conditions and answer questions.

In Finland, Kiantama monitors the conditions of the picking camps and offers pickers the opportunity to provide feedback anonymously directly to Kiantama. According to Kiantama, the goal is to ensure that responsibility does not remain just instructions but is implemented in practice throughout the season.