More than 95 per cent of growers who used SAWS labour in 2012 said that the removal of the scheme would have a negative impact on their business. The survey, completed by growers who employ over one third of England’s total seasonal workforce, also shows that every 3.5 seasonal jobs support one UK permanent job
Anthony Snell, vice chairman of the NFU’s horticulture and potatoes board, said: “Seasonal migrant labour is the backbone of the British horticulture industry and growers rely on it to produce and harvest their crops every year. This requirement is only going to increase as growers expand production to meet consumer demand. A continuation of SAWS will therefore be vital to ensuring the on-going viability of horticultural production in Britain.
“SAWS is a robust and effective scheme, which has provided a pool of labour for the horticulture industry for the past 60 years. Workers contribute to the UK economy while they are here by paying tax and national insurance and then they return home. Growers who use SAWS labour really value the reliability, flexibility and consistency it offers them and generally can’t emphasise enough just how vital a stream of labour this is.
“With the 2013 season already underway and growers impatient to know where they stand on this issue, Government needs to make a decision sooner rather than later.”
The current SAWS arrangements only extend until the end of 2013 and Government has not yet decided if any successor scheme should be put in place.
The NFU has developed proposals for a new seasonal labour scheme that will allow the horticultural industry to respond to the demands of consumers and continue to compete with imports.
Those surveyed employed an estimated 16,667 seasonal workers in 2012 and 4762 permanent workers. As such, it is estimated that every 3.5 seasonal jobs support one UK permanent job in the horticulture and potatoes sector. DEFRA’s Farm Labour and Wage Statistics 2012 indicated there were 40,455 non-permanent workers in England.
The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) is a quota based scheme that enables farmers to recruit temporary overseas workers to carry out planting and gathering of crops, on farm processing and packing (maximum six month work permit). It is a robust scheme, controlled by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and managed by contracted operators.