The shortage of workers continues to be a major challenge for Madeira's grape producers. In Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, 57-year-old João Figueira is preparing to harvest around 20,000 kilograms of grapes, but finds it increasingly difficult to secure willing and available labour.
Figueira has assembled a team of about ten people, including young individuals taking advantage of school holidays to earn extra money. Despite the labour scarcity, the producer is optimistic about this year's harvest, anticipating it will be better than last year's, with grapes described as "beautiful" and in good condition.
However, the difficulty in finding workers exacerbates rising production costs. João Figueira believes grape growing is becoming less profitable, as available financial support is insufficient to cover the total cost of labour. He also suggests that wineries should offer higher prices for the grapes they purchase.
