Defra has announced 45,000 visas
for seasonal workers will be available to horticulture businesses
next year - an uplift of 15,000 compared to what was available to
businesses at the start of 2022.
The number will be kept under review with the potential to
increase by a further 10,000 if necessary, and contingent on
sponsors and growers improving and abiding by to worker welfare
standards, including ensuring workers are guaranteed a minimum
number of paid hours each week.
The first 4,000 visas will be made available to operators this
week to ensure that daffodil growers have the labour available
for their harvest at the start of the year
The news was received positively in farming media. BBC Farming Today (at 19
mins, 45 secs) ran a piece with the National Farmers Union’s Tom
Bradshaw, who welcomed the move. Elsewhere Farmers Weekly,
Horticulture Week,
Farmers Guardian,
Agriland and Farming UK alongside
national coverage in the Sun and the Financial Times.
Welcoming the announcement, Farming Minister said:
Seasonal labour has long been part of the UK’s rural economy, and
while it is right that we offer long term support to increase the
use of domestic labour, we also need to support businesses on the
back of what has been a challenging year for food producers.
That’s why we’ve listened to the UK’s horticulture sector, and
today’s announcement will provide our growers with the labour
they need to bring in the harvest and continue to put their
produce on our tables.
