Deep Labor Pool
A big benefit to having an offshore facility in China is the huge availability of low-wage workers. With an average wage of $2.50 per day and productivity at 50 percent better than any of Fischer's other farms, Falkenstein says. He adds the pay is similar to farms Fischer owns in other countries.
"The pay in China for agricultural work in on par with Kenya," he says. "We pay 20 percent above scale in Kenya, where we do own the farm and they are our employees. We supply other benefits in Kenya such as a fully staffed infirmary, where there was none, a school for over 800 students, where there was none, and hot meals. In China, Eastfields is a joint venture between private individuals and the government and the workers are their employees."
At Eastfields, employees work early in the morning to late at night, especially during peak harvest season for geraniums. At that time, the workers migrate from poorer, rural areas outside the Shanghai province because peak harvest season is during China's holiday season. Eastfields has to pay more during this three-week period. This year, with the E2 area in production, Eastfields will employ more than 400 workers.
A big benefit to having an offshore facility in China is the huge availability of low-wage workers. With an average wage of $2.50 per day and productivity at 50 percent better than any of Fischer's other farms, Falkenstein says. He adds the pay is similar to farms Fischer owns in other countries.
"The pay in China for agricultural work in on par with Kenya," he says. "We pay 20 percent above scale in Kenya, where we do own the farm and they are our employees. We supply other benefits in Kenya such as a fully staffed infirmary, where there was none, a school for over 800 students, where there was none, and hot meals. In China, Eastfields is a joint venture between private individuals and the government and the workers are their employees."
At Eastfields, employees work early in the morning to late at night, especially during peak harvest season for geraniums. At that time, the workers migrate from poorer, rural areas outside the Shanghai province because peak harvest season is during China's holiday season. Eastfields has to pay more during this three-week period. This year, with the E2 area in production, Eastfields will employ more than 400 workers.