NFU Horticulture Adviser Lee Abbey joined a panel of industry experts and highlighted the need for government to take action to mitigate falling levels of seasonal workers in the UK.
He explained that, as we approach peak season for seasonal labour requirements, the need to reverse the trend of falling seasonal labour uptake by EU nationals is essential to prevent serious supply chain disruption. In 2017, Labour Providers reported shortages of around 13%, and this downward trend is continuing through 2018.
In the short term, the NFU is calling on government to take action on immigration arrangements to help mitigate the continued fall of EU nationals taking up seasonal work. The need for a seasonal labour scheme which allows for workers from outside the EU, as is the case in many other EU countries, was pressed at the meeting. Without a scheme, the UK does not have a level playing field with other EU countries when it comes to labour supply.
Further ahead Post-Brexit, the immigration bill must recognise the crucial need for both high and low skilled immigrant labour within horticulture. Chair of the meeting, Baroness Fookes, encouraged the NFU to continue lobbying on this point so that the bill delivers for farming.
Other subjects touched on during the inquiry included whether automation was a solution to labour shortages, and whether we can encourage more UK nationals to take up seasonal labour roles.