A nationwide pilot to bring migrant workers to UK farms has
been announced by the Home Secretary and Environment
Secretary today (Thursday 6 September).
The pilot will mean fruit and vegetable farmers are able to
employ migrant workers for seasonal work for up to six
months. 2,500 workers from outside the EU will be able to
come to the UK each year, alleviating labour shortages
during peak production periods.
Soft fruit production in the UK has grown dramatically, by
130% in the last 20 years. To ensure that this growth
continues and the UK is at the forefront of the next
agriculture revolution, farmers must also look at ways that
technology can reduce demands for labour.
However, automated harvesting solutions are not universally
available and so in the short term, this pilot will support
farmers during peak production periods.
This pilot will also explore how to keep British
horticulture competitive, as almost all other OECD
countries source seasonal workers to pick fruit and
vegetables.
Home Secretary said:
British farmers are vital to the UK’s economy – and the
Government will look to support them in any way we can.
This pilot will ensure farmers have access to the
seasonal labour they need to remain productive and
profitable during busy times of the year.
I am committed to having an immigration system that
reduces migration to sustainable levels, supports all
industry and ensures we welcome those who benefit
Britain.
Environment Secretary said:
We have listened to the powerful arguments from farmers
about the need for seasonal labour to keep the
horticulture industry productive and profitable.
From lettuce in East Anglia to strawberries in Scotland,
we want to make sure that farmers can continue to grow,
sell and export more great British food.
This two year pilot will ease the workforce pressures
faced by farmers during busy times of the year. We will
review the pilot’s results as we look at how best to
support the longer-term needs of industry outside the EU.
