NFU horticulture board chairman Ali Capper last week took the opportunity to give detailed evidence on the impact of the National Living Wage (NLW) and the potential impact of the National Minimum Wage to the Low Pay Commission (LPC).
On a day filled with emotional and passionate discussions, Ali along with NFU’s Lee Osborne, NFU Herefordshire Adviser Clare Greener and Wye Fruit General Manager Chris Fletcher spent the day with the group which included 3 representatives of the LPC and a treasury official.
Ali Capper (Right) speaking to Low Pay Commission representatives
Ali told the LPC: “We’re trying to be pragmatic about these new costs but I don’t understand why we need to have the most expensive labour costs in the world. Surely we need to be competitive.
“To mitigate some of the costs we need to see exemptions on National Insurance contributions and we need the implementation of a Students Workers Scheme for students from around the world, not just from within the EU. Some of the best agriculture in the world happens outside the EU so we need to utilise this skills.”
Ali explained that on her own Apples and Hops farms there are simply no further ways that the labour costs can be reduced to help offset the impact of the NLW.
Ali Capper talks to Low Pay Commissioner Neil Carberry about the impact of NLW
“With regards to pruning, thinning apples and harvest there just aren’t any robots waiting on the shelves to offset these costs. This kind of technology is 10 years away.
“We have worked hard with with our packhouse Wye Fruit which is one of the most advanced packhouses in the UK to mitigate the costs, but even here there is a limit to the amount labour can be reduced.”
The LPC is an independent body that advises the government about the National Minimum Wage.