Twenty-nine Thai berry pickers have been granted a total of 2.3 million kronor in state compensation by the Swedish Crime Victim Authority following a case of severe labour exploitation in Västerbotten, northern Sweden.
Around 150 Thai workers arrived in Åsele in 2023 with promises of fair wages and conditions but were instead forced to work up to twelve hours a day, seven days a week, often without pay. Two berry company owners were convicted of aggravated human exploitation and ordered to pay damages.
According to the court ruling, the pickers lived under harsh conditions, with poor housing, little food and limited freedom of movement. Many had their passports confiscated and were threatened with being sent home in debt. “We hope that the compensation helps provide some sense of justice for the victims,” said Magnus Öhrn, head of the compensation unit at the Swedish Crime Victim Authority.
Earlier this year, a Finnish court also ruled in favour of exploited Thai berry pickers, granting reparations in a separate but similar case. The two rulings highlight growing Nordic scrutiny of seasonal labour practices in the berry industry, which relies heavily on migrant workers from Thailand.
The Swedish Crime Victim Authority has encouraged other affected workers to apply for compensation, noting that additional victims may still qualify.
