No days off for 33 days, 310 hours worked, €4,309 earned: a Polish woman's German strawberry season sparks TikTok debate

Her TikTok post went viral

According to Radiotrek — Світ: Agata Witoń, a Polish citizen, has drawn broad attention online after describing her time working on a strawberry plantation in Germany. Her account, posted to TikTok, quickly turned into a heated discussion about whether the payout is worth the physical effort. For anyone weighing similar seasonal work abroad, her figures provide a rare, concrete look at both the pay and the costs.

What the job involved

For 33 consecutive days, Witoń went to work with no rest days, logging 310 hours in total. A regular shift ran from 9 to 10 hours and sometimes stretched to 11. Her hourly rate was €13.90. While on the plantation, she had to spend part of what she earned on accommodation at €10 per day and on transportation to and from Germany.

What she earned

Her total pay before deductions came to roughly €4,309. After paying for housing and travel, she had about €3,633 left, which equals about 15,336 zlotys. The figures have prompted online users to debate whether a job like this is actually worth the money.

Was the money worth it?

Witoń's experience has led to broader discussions about labor conditions and compensation for physically demanding seasonal jobs. It has also drawn in people who are interested in working abroad and want to understand the reality of work on agricultural plantations.

Her case underscores the need to look closely at the working conditions of seasonal employees, particularly in farming, where the physical strain can be heavy. Witoń's story may serve as a helpful example for anyone considering a similar job overseas and could push for a reassessment of pay and workplace policies in this field.

Witoń's experience sheds light on the broader context of seasonal work in agriculture, similar to what many Ukrainians have encountered while picking strawberries in Germany. For a detailed breakdown of earnings and living conditions faced by workers in this sector, you can explore how much they typically earn in a month by visiting this insightful report.