Defra Secretary George Eustice has been criticised at NFU conference this week for failing to provide clarity on whether the number of seasonal visas on offer will be drastically increased.听
51AV视频groups have already warned the Government's plans to expand the number of places available on the pilot from 2,500 to 10,000 fell 鈥榳oefully short' of what was needed.听听
The UK requires approximately 80,000 seasonal agricultural workers every year and the Office for National Statistics has found 99 per cent of these workers come from countries within the EU.
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairwoman, Ali Capper, told Mr Eustice at the conference that 鈥榯his is not a next year problem', adding farmers would need a guarantee on numbers ahead of this year's recruitment process for seasonal workers.
She said: "Provisions need to be put in place, as farmers need to start recruiting seasonal workers in the autumn of this year to prepare for when freedom of movement ends in 2021."
Fully-fledged
Responding, Mr Eustice promised to work with the Home Office to ensure a 鈥榝ully fledged' Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) was set up.
He said: "If we are not going to have free movement, or a so-called low skilled labour route for other countries in the EU, then the policy remedy will be the expansion of the SAWS.
"And I do understand the recruitment for next season will commence this year and businesses will need some clarity to inform their croppings."
Uncertainty
Ms Capper remained dissatisfied with Mr Eustice's response, saying: "I am deeply disappointed that the recognition of this number of 70,000 did not come out of his mouth."
She added the uncertainty created by Government meant it was difficult for farm businesses to plan what they are going to do next year, placing the future of horticulture at risk.
"What is the point of planting if we do not have the labour to pick the fruit," she said.
NFU president Minette Batters echoed these concerns and has urged Ministers to commit to delivering a full scheme for 2021.
The union had previously blasted the Government's new points-based immigration system for 鈥榝ailing to recognise farming's needs'.听
Ms Capper added: "In our industry we have the lowest level of unemployment that we have had in 40 years - pickers have got to come from somewhere and businesses cannot run on these numbers."
