Winter jobs platform aims to retain experienced Alpine staff

A planned job platform will help people who work on Swiss Alpine farms in summer find seasonal work in winter, SRF reports. The initiative aims to make it easier for experienced staff to return to the mountains the following summer.

When the Alpine season ends, many workers must find a way to cover their living costs through the winter. If they cannot find suitable work in the valley, they may not return the next year, and Alpine farms risk losing hard-won experience.

The Swiss Alpine Farming Association is developing the project with the agricultural advisory centre Agridea, a university and the association z’Alp. “The sector’s main goal is to retain experienced Alpine staff over several years,” said association director Selina Droz. A nationwide study earlier this year highlighted the problem.

Existing job boards often do not meet the needs of Alpine workers, Agridea’s Esther Hasen said. Agricultural platforms tend to focus on professionals in the farming sector, while Alpine staff come from a wider range of backgrounds. “There are also graphic designers who spend 15 years working on an Alpine farm,” she said.

Finding winter work is not the only factor in whether people return. Hasen said fair pay and up-to-date facilities matter, as do appreciation, open communication and respectful treatment. Agridea now runs visits to Alpine farms held up as examples to encourage workers and employers to exchange experiences.

The proposed platform will focus on jobs that fit around the Alpine season, including work with mountain railway operators or in ski resorts, temporary cover in care professions and seasonal construction jobs.