Thai berry pickers to get support from Finland

HELSINKI — Finland's Minister for Labor, Arto Satonen, pledged more government support for migrant Thai berry pickers on Tuesday, describing wrongdoings in the Finnish berry industry as "serious" and "very deplorable".

Satonen made the statement following remote talks with Thai Labor Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn. Thailand had suspended issuing exit permits to Thais for berry picking in Finland following reports that Thai pickers are living in dire conditions in the country.

Satonen said Thailand would now only be prepared to allow berry pickers to leave for Finland, following "a final check of their earnings level" there.