Greece and Albania signed an agreement on Friday paving the way for thousands of Albanian citizens to work in Greece’s agriculture sector, despite the coronavirus restrictions.
The two countries had shut their borders in March to prevent the virus from spreading.
Greek Parliament approved the agreement on Friday which will allow up to 10,000 Albanians to move into Greece without visas, starting mid-May.
The move follows concerns expressed by Greek farmers who claim that lack of land workers threatens this year’s production.
The association of farmers of Imathia, in northern Greece, for example, say that there is an urgent need for 7,000 land workers in order to collect peaches, one of the most emblematic fruits of the region.
Farmers in Peloponnese and Crete have also joined the call for allowing Albanians to work in the fields.