The cross-party EFRA Committee remains concerned that Britain’s
food supply chain may not be able to secure sufficient labour for
summer 2021 under the Government’s new immigration policy. Today,
the Committee publishes the Government's response to its
December 2020 report, and expresses
disappointment in the Government’s last-minute
approach to finalising the details of its recruitment
scheme for overseas seasonal workers.
The Government only announced the final two of four operators for
its Seasonal Workers Pilot on 5 May. As peak harvesting season
approaches in many sectors, the Committee is concerned about the
tight timeframe left for operators to recruit labour overseas and
supply staff to those farms who need them. The group of MPs also
repeats its call for the Seasonal Worker Pilot scheme to be
broadened to include other food supply chain and agricultural
sectors beyond edible horticulture.
The Committee is also concerned about recent evidence of
shortages of skilled workers, especially Official
Veterinarians (OVs) working in abattoirs. Over 9 in 10 of these
key workers are EEA-qualified. The Committee’s report called on
the Government to closely monitor the impact of its new
immigration policy on the supply of such skilled workers.
However, despite the Government's assurance of 'diligent' work on
ensuring the supply of such workers, the Committee notes recent
evidence of OV capacity shortage in abattoirs. Although
registration standards have been temporarily lowered as a
short-term solution, the Government has not said how it intends
to fill these jobs in the long term.
, Chair of the EFRA Select Committee, said:
"It is now May, with peak harvesting season almost upon us, and
yet the Government has only just appointed the final two
operators for the Seasonal Workers Pilot. British Growers have
been placed at the bottom of the Home Office's priorities list,
and the unnecessary uncertainty could prove costly for producers.
Despite last year’s ‘Pick for Britain’ pilot scheme, our report
made it clear that overseas labour is still very much needed, and
the Government’s efforts to recruit more domestic labour cannot
hope to be sufficient for this summer’s harvest. As the reports
of daffodils going unpicked this spring made clear the need also
goes well beyond just edible horticulture.
"Before Christmas, we warned the Government of the huge
consequences of keeping plans for seasonal labour vague until the
very last minute. There can be no excuse for further hold-ups-
the Home Office need to start listening to the agricultural
sector now to minimise the impact on British farmers.”
