The NFU believes a skilled and professional workforce is vital for a thriving, competitive and confident dairy sector. Increasing herd and farm size has led to a move away from solely family managed farms to increased staff employment at a time when the country is faced with rising labour costs and a volatile milk price.
Access to a permanent skilled workforce is imperative if farming is to succeed post-Brexit. The NFU are calling on Government to take action to place emphasis on roles which are suffering skill shortages.
Shortage Occupation List
The NFU have long been lobbying for the inclusion of Dairy Herdsmen on the Shortage Occupation List which allows employers to bring in workers from outside the EEA without going through the Resident Labour Market Test.
In June 2018 the government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a full review of the SOL. It has been made very clear that any future immigration system will be based on skills and previously identified jobs that cannot easily be filled through the domestic workforce.
The NFU is urging members to respond to the consultation so that critical roles that many non-UK workers perform on our farms at all skill levels are accounted for.
Find out more and make sure you have your say here