photojournalist in Hannover Germany - photojournalist Hannover

Working far away

IRVINGVILLEGAS

Senegalese worker pulling the nets where the olives are collected. Luckily, he is one of the few that have had a contract to work every year for the harvesting for the past 8 years. He has 3 daughters in his home country to whom he must send money. Spain, Jaen 2014

The project concept began with this photo in Weiterstadt, Germany 2007.

These people working under intense heat which provokes that they do their activities without some of their clothes, one of them even in underwear.

The bus of the farm , where workers are driven from the hotel to the fields. In their last day in Germany the workers pack their bags, after 56 days they go back home and they can see their families again.56 days is the maximum time they are allowed to work on this farm in Germany, after the first group moves back, the second comes and finishes the season work. Ovelgönne, Germany, 2013

These are workers who go where the work calls them. Some of them go only for one season and return to their country, others travel from city to city or country to country looking for more work, almost all of them do this for a better economic stability for their family.

My intention with the project "Working far away" is to document the circumstances of seasonal workers in different countries and not only their arduous work but also how they live during the working season. I want to show the things they must go through to obtain this type of job and to understand the necessity this people have to leave their country in order to obtain a better life for them and the family waiting for them at home. I intend to continue working on this issue in the months and years to come.

The plastic that protects the asparagus,in the course of the day it‘s harder and harder to take it out, especially for women.

In the grass, lying in the shade of a tree, this woman makes a ten minute break and smokes.

On her neck is the key of her room, the same way others do in order not to lose it.

Washed clothes of the workers are hanging outside to get dry.

The room of working clothes and tools, a worker relaxes after a long day at work. Starting work a day by 5am and get of at 6pm, with a two-hours lunch break.

During the lunch break, They all are waiting in line at the dining room for food.Every day it is prepared by the hotel operators for the asparagus picker. It costs 4 euros each meal.

workers playing cards in their free time.

A worker shows the photo of his family; his wife and daughter have to wait for his return.

They toil in sun, rain and cold.

After a long day at work playing ping pong, is a popular Recreational and leisure.

These men play up to 11:30 pm

plates with food.

Late in the evening , these roommates are talking and laughing, they drink also some alcohol and let the work behind for a moment.

Sunburns due to work under the sweltering heat.

At night, after 23 hours, this couple has finally time for themselves. Both are from Poland, they met here this work-season.

The workers go to bed , they have to be prepared each morning at 3:50am. The bus which takes them to their place of work, rides at 4:30am.

During their break after eating , some workers sleep in their rooms. They have only 30 minutes then they must go back to work again.

The room of working clothes and tools. This clothing ,raincoat and boots as well, must be brought by the workers themselves. The farm provides them only the tools that they need.

Worker preparing for a new workday.

The farm bus, where the workers are transported to work.

The asparagus fields through a wet window of the bus. It is five clock in the morning and it‘s raining a little.

They work every day, 10 hours a day starting 5 clock in the morning.

A woman working in the asparagus fields.It is a hard work but the money she earns here in Germany is very valuable in her country.

The rain doesn’t stop the workers and they keep on working: A rain cape is enough for hem - but the work is harder. They work 56 days long without any free day.

These people are waiting to be brought to the hotel by bus.It is around 6 pm, every day it’s the same routine.

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Chapter I. Asparagus Season, Germany 2013.

Every year approximately 270 000 workers come to Germany to reap the harvest, they are all foreigners, most of them from Poland and Romania - without these people, it would be impossible to reap because most of unemployed German people who are looking for a job are not willing to do it.

Foreign workers are allowed to work in Germany for about 56 days. They work every day, 10 hours a day starting at 5 o'clock in the morning. This year (2013), they get 27-57 cents for each kilo harvested and that depends on the size of the asparagus. They toil in sun, rain and cold.

This is a look into the lives of a group of harvesters in one of the many farms in Germany that bring foreigners for their annual reap. It shows us not only how they work in different situations and under the toughest conditions but also their leisure time, their life together and the lifestyle these people have during their work in Germany.

Germany April - June 2013

One of them said: We come to work, we want to make money and that‘s why we do not care about the weather or free days. Last season I earned 4,000 Euros and that‘s why I‘m here again this year.

The room where Alina and her husband temporarily live. Her husband has been taking seasonal jobs for some years. She went to Spain for a season with her husband but she did not like the country, she prefers to wait for him back in Romania every season. They are saving part of their earnings to build a house.

Viseu de Sus, Maramures -Transilvania, Romania.

Vasilo has been traveling to Germany for the asparagus season for 8 years. He has also been in the olives season in Spain. Viseu de Sus, Maramures -Transilvania, Romania.

Viseu de Sus, Maramures -Transilvania, Romania

Vasilo and his wife Anutsa preparing the straw for the winter, hills of Maramures in the north of Romania. In their town, farming and cattle raising are the only jobs he has. Viseu de Sus, Maramures, Transilvania. Romania.

Doru has worked in Spain and Germany in seasonal jobs. He doesn't want to go back next year and leave his family, lands and animals alone again. Viseu de Sus, Maramures -Transilvania, Romania

Viseu de Sus, Maramures, Transilvania. Romania

María takes care of her son, crops and animals while her husband Cristi is in Germany for the asparagus season.

Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

These people produce butter and cheese for their own consumption.

Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

Cristi’s been going to the asparagus season in Germany for 4 years. Part of the money he earns is to pay debts; the other part has to be distributed along the year. Last year’s money was used to buy a car for his oldest son.

Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

This was the first year for Rodica in the asparagus season in Germany. She spent her money on clothes for her daughters, paying debts and other stuff. Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

Ana has been working for 4 years in Germany during the asparagus season. Nelu, her husband, works as an electrical engineer in another city 35km away. They bought a car for Nelu so he can continue with his job with the money earned in Germany. Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

Nicola is a farmer in Salciva, Hunedoara. Cristina is her 17-year old daughter and stays at home taking care of the animals and housework when her mother is working in the asparagus season. Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

This was the first year for Ana working in the asparagus season in Germany. With her wages she bought a washing machine, paid some debts and saved some for the rest of the year. Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

Vlady has been coming to Germany for the past 2 years to work as an asparagus harvester. In Romania, he and his girlfriend live together in 35-square meter room. With the money he has obtained in Germany, he paid the rent for a whole year. Back home he works in an office and earns 250 Euros a month. Deva, Romania.

Deva, Romania.

Daniel has been working for four years in the asparagus season in Germany. He wants to get married in three years. Therefore, he needs to save some of his money and live the rest of the year with what he has left. His mother also works during the asparagus season in Germany. Craiova, Romania.

Craiova, Romania.

Petruta in her kitchen still under construction. She's been working for the past four years as a seasonal worker, she starts in Italy then she goes to Spain and then to Germany. With her wages, she continues with the construction of her own house back in Romania. Craiova, Romania.

Craiova, Romania.

Petruta entering her house still under construction. With the combined wages of Petruta and her son, earned during the asparagus season in Germany, they are trying to finish the building of their house. Craiova, Romania.

This was the first year for Dari in the asparagus season in Germany. Since he has no other work in Romania he wants to work again in Germany next year. He lives with his grandparents in Craiova. Craiova, Romania.

Pojoga, Hunedoara, Romania.

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Chapter II.

At Home, Romania 2014.

The Family of these seasonal workers has to wait for them in their respective countries, few families travel together searching for these type of job. In most cases somebody remains taking care of the house, children and even, if they have a farm, of the animals.

This photo series is focused on the family members of the workers who remain in their countries; on some workers who have stayed in home this season and some details of their life when they are not working in some other place.

Anutsa and her son. She has to look after the crops and the animals of her home while her husband, Vasilo, works during the asparagus season in Germany. Viseu de Sus, Maramures -Transilvania, Romania.2014

Different cities, towns, ways of life and histories but all of them have something in common; they work in another country where they receive a better wage then return home with their families after the season is over. Many of them have this work and survive with this only income all year until the next season starts. Some others have a job back home but very badly paid so this tend to be the reason why these people have to leave home looking for better payment for a better life for them and their families.

June- July Romania 2014.

When Rodica is working in Germany, her daughters Alina and Roxi have to do the housework. Marian, their father, works as a mechanic and truck driver. Salciva, Hunedoara, Romania.

Road to Jaén. If these seasonal workers do not find a job in the city, they will continue to the next one until they find something.This is the destiny of many immigrants when they arrive to Europe. After a long and dangerous journey to arrive to Spain they must find a way to make a living here and send money to their family in their home country.

Senegalese worker pulling the nets where the olives are collected. Luckily, he is one of the few that have had a contract to work every year for the harvesting for the past 8 years. He has 3 daughters in his home country to whom he must send money.

Senegalese worker beating with a twig the olives that were in the high part of the Olive (tree). He‘s been working for the same landowner over the past 8 years.

Pause after work. Workers from Senegal have had their work assured for some years. Since the landowner contracted them, they managed to obtain their documents so they can work without problems in Spain. When apple seasons begin, they all need to move to the next city where they also have a fixed contract. Many of the immigrants are able to work for a good landowner who helps them with their documentation, for others this is more difficult so they‘ve been working in Spain without papers.

This young Senegalese is on his way to the bus-station, he is going to travel to a neighboring town where he will be working for around 20 days expecting those become more or that after this job he can find another one. If he doesn't find a job, he will return to Jaén where his companions are living in a park where he also stays sometimes waiting for the season to start or until a new job comes up in the next city.

Portrait of a young Senegalese who lives in his shack in a park of Jaen. He has work for the next 20 days in a town near Jaén, he has been living and working as seasonal worker in Spain for the past 8 years.

Many of these seasonal workers prefer to sleep in their tents on the streets or inside ATMs of the city since the shelters request, their documentation and some of them do not have it.

Ibraham from Western Sahara says; "where were the Spaniards 10 years ago when we, the immigrants, alone made the harvesting of the olives” In Jaén he didn´t obtain a job. He sleeps today in the shelter that the city offers to these workers, tomorrow in the early hours of the morning he´s going to take the bus to another city of Spain looking for a place to work. For more than 20 years, he has been traveling and working throughout Spain as a seasonal worker.

Seasonal worker from Guinea speaks with his companion of a near city asking him if there is work there. These workers usually travel alone, but they are always calling their contacts to have some idea of where to go next. He knows that finding a job in Spain is becoming harder so he's planning to travel to France or Germany next year.

Group of workers in the meeting place waiting for their boss (the landowner) as they do every morning. In the group, there are only Spaniards and a Moroccan that has been working for 7 years in the same group. Before the crisis more people could be seen waiting in the meeting point, including more immigrants. Some of the workers were not even part of the group but they used to speak with the boss requesting for a job. That is not the case this year.

"I'm aware that we've taken jobs form the hands of many of these immigrants" says Angel, a Spanish citizen who used to have a very good position in a construction company and was forced to work in the in the olive harvesting after the crisis.

He's been working for 7 years in the olive harvesting.

Rafael is a Spanish citizen. After the crisis he lost his job as a tradesman and for the past 8 years he‘s been working in the olive harvesting.

Rafael working in the harvesting of olives. In the past, this was only a work for immigrants or people with low academic level, after the crisis it became mandatory to work where he can. The season of olives is a good opportunity.Rafael is a Spanish citizen. After the crisis he lost his job as a tradesman and for the past 8 years he‘s been working in the olive harvesting.

Road to Jaén. If these seasonal workers do not find a job in the city, they will continue to the next one until they find something.This is the destiny of many immigrants when they arrive to Europe. After a long and dangerous journey to arrive to Spain they must find a way to make a living here and send money to their family in their home country.

Immigrants working in the olive harvesting. Immigrants are often hired because they are considered strong workers that do not argue the work rate.Some workers use machinery that is usually very heavy.

Meshes where the olives are collected.

Kettle for teatime at an improvised campsite.

Young from Senegal waiting for the bus. He's been living and working in Spain as seasonal worker for the past 8 years. He didn't find a job this year in Jaén so he has to go to the next town looking for it. If these seasonal workers do not find a job in the city, they will continue to the next one until they find something. This is the destiny of many immigrants when they arrive to Europe. After a long and dangerous journey to arrive to Spain they must find a way to make a living here and send money to their family in their home country.

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Chapter III.

Migrant seasonal workers in the Spanisch financial crisis 2014.

Years ago, immigrants worked in the olive harvesting because most of Spanish people did not want to make this arduous work. Now, since the crisis in Spain, people have begun to lose their jobs and the only option they have left is to work in the fields, leaving no vacant for the immigrants. Jaén, Andalusian city in Spain, is one of the stops for these seasonal immigrants who cross the country working in the different agricultural seasons.

This is the destiny of many immigrants when they arrive to Europe. After a long and dangerous journey to arrive to Spain they must find a way to make a living here and send money to their family in their home country.

November - December 2014. Jaen Spain.

„I‘m aware that we‘ve taken jobs form the hands of many of these immigrants“ says Angel, a Spanish citizen who used to have a very good position in a construction company and was forced to work in the in the olive harvesting after the crisis.

Ibraham from Western Sahara says; „where were the Spaniards 10 years ago when we, the immigrants, alone made the harvesting of the olives”

This young Senegalese has been working as seasonal worker for 8 years in Spain; he doesn‘t want to sleep in the shelter so he sleeps in an improvised tent in the darkness of a park. Often people don‘t want to sleep in the shelter as documentation is requested and some of them do not have it. He hasn‘t found a job in this city this year so tomorrow he will continue looking for a job in another town.

When the skin of the sheep is healthy, it has no scabies or any other type of disease, the shearing takes only 2 minutes.

Sometimes the working area for the shearing is very reduced. Sheared sheep. Some people decided for a second shearing on September,

while other people prefer to wait still next year.

Small break eating Galician pasty while the team leader is talking by the phone with the

owner of another farm offering them more work.

A lady brings her sheep to be sheared.

This young man has to catch the sheep and take them to the shearers; this facilitates the job and prevents waste of time. This is the first year in the shearing season for this man, he starts catching the sheep. His wife is pregnant, that’s the reason he deci- ded to come beacuse they will need extra money soon; he thinks he can come next year, to the next season.

This work team consists in 3 members; 2 shearers and one more that catches the sheep. Some sheep have skin diseases,

which makes difficult to shear them; when the skin is clean and healthy, it only takes one minute.

Sheared sheep. Some people decided for a second shearing on September, while other people prefer to wait still next year.

They transport all the tools they need in the back of the car.

Workers taking a break.

Preparing the blades for the next day.

After a day of work, workers rest in the apartment they lease in the province of Lugo.

Small towns near to Santiago de Compostela. During the 3 months of the shearing season, they travel more

than 20,000 kilometers within Galicia to the farms of those who ask for their services.

Sheep’s owner monitoring the shearing. The way to accommodate the animal for the shearing is to put it in a sitting position.

The team leader has been coming to Spain for the past 25 years to work in the shearing season. At the beginning, he used to come with his uncle who taught him the job; in due time, when his uncle was not able to come any more, he formed his own work team.

After working on their way to changing their clothes.

Polish workers are welcome by the people of Galicia, some of them have been well acquainted for several years. After work, some Polish workers are invited to have lunch.

Polish worker preparing his shearing tools. He’s been coming to Galicia for the past 9 years to the shearing season.

Carring the working tools where they are going to be needed for the shearing.

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Chapter IV.

La Rapa,

Galicia 2015.

The Polish shearers working in Galicia have to cross more than 20.000 kilometers during the three months of the shearing season (April to June) ; in their vehicle they travel from town to town towards the farms of those who ask for their services.

It takes one minute per sheep to shear, when the skin is dirty or has some disease it takes a little more than two minutes earning 3 Euros each. In a good day working with a big flock, they shear up to 500; with smaller flocks around 200 per day. Altogether, there are 30,000 sheep to be sheared in Galicia.

„It hurts to have our family far away those 3 months, but now with the internet and cell phones it became easier to be in contact. 20 years ago, we could only make one phone call every two weeks from a public phone. The sheared season in Galicia is one of our main sources of income to live in Poland. In our country we can only get occasional - type of work, there is no permanent or well paid job back in Poland.“ Said one of the workers.

This is a 3-member team, two of them shear and the third catches the sheep and take them to the shearing spot. This is a family business, the team leader learned it from his uncle 25 years ago when he was the one catching the sheep. “The three of us are a family, we work, eat and enjoy together as a family would, and we share the place we live in.“

Competition is increasing; more and more people from Poland want to participate in the shearing, but the team has their routs and their clients know and receive them. The team consider of great importance to do an excellent job so they can come back the next season, even more, they need to keep in contact with their clients.

April Galicia, Spain 2015.

“I’ve been coming to work for the shearing season for 25 years. Spaniards are not willing to perform this job, it is exhausting, and that‘s why I have a sure thing here.“- said the team leader.

„It hurts to have our family far away those 3 months, but now with the internet and cell phones it became easier to be in contact. 20 years ago, we could only make one phone call every two weeks from a public phone. The sheared season in Galicia is one of our main sources of income to live in Poland. In our country we can only get occasional - type of work, there is no permanent or well paid job back in Poland.“ Said one of the workers.

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Your donations will make my project possible, a project that speaks about hope, courage, hard work, survival and love for their family.

I have been trying to continue with this project but my resources are limited. I need money for bed and boarding, trave expenses and translation. That’s the reason I’m asking for your support. Your donations will make my project possible, a project that speaks about hope, courage, hard work, survival and love for their family.

This is a project that allows us to know and to come closer to the life of these hard-workers that need to travel to strange countries in order to have better economic stability for their families.

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