There can be no doubt about the seriousness of the issues facing
the food and farming sector caused by labour shortages, warns the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee today (April 6).
In a new report, Labour shortages in the food and
farming sector, MPs conclude that UK’s largest manufacturing
sector faces permanent damage if the Government fails to address
the lack of workers due mainly to covid-19 and
Brexit.
Despite the sector flagging significant concern, the shortage of
labour in 2021 took a toll on food security, the welfare of
animals and the mental health of those who work in the industry,
MPs report.
The pig sector was particularly badly affected, with 35,000 pigs
being culled due to a lack of butchers to process them. The
Report calls on the Secretary of State to use the Department’s
power to provide direct support to pig farmers.
The Committee was frustrated by the reluctance of Government to
engage with the industry over labour shortages. Despite
valiant attempts by the industry, Ministers failed to
understand the issues and even sought to pass the blame onto the
sector. Today’s report urges Government to have a radical rethink
to prevent future interventions coming too late.
Revised immigration measures could address the current crisis.
For example, the Report calls for a review of the Skilled Workers
Visa scheme including the complexity and costs faced by employers
and tailoring the English language requirement to meet the needs
of the sector.
While there have been welcome changes to the Seasonal Worker
Pilot, the inclusion of the ornamental sector necessitates the
Government to make available the extra 10,000 visas ear-marked
and for the scheme to be made permanent.
However, a reliance on overseas labour must be reduced in
preference for a long-term labour strategy that grows and
develops home-grown talent, combining attractive education and
vocational training packages with the deployment of new
technology.
While the Committee welcomes some of the Government’s work in the
area, it warns that without fundamental change, the UK is facing
a chain reaction of wage rises, leading to price increases and
food production being exported abroad.
The Chair of the EFRA Committee, , said:
“In 2021 farmers faced an extraordinary situation – crops
were left to rot in the fields and healthy pigs were culled due
to a lack of workers. This has serious implications for the
well-being of the people who put food on our tables today and in
the future. The Government’s attitude to the plight
of food and farming workers was particularly
disappointing.
“While some of the reforms put forward by Government have
helped in the short term, and we agreed that we must look to
expand the domestic workforce – this won’t happen overnight. In
the meantime, it must use the powers available – including over
immigration policy - to support the sector. Otherwise we will
export our food production and import more of our
food.
“Even more importantly, Government must change its attitude
to the food and farming sector – trusting them and acting
promptly when they raise concerns. Our food and farmers depend on
it.”
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