The results of the NFU's 2015 End of Season Horticultural Survey demonstrate that inadequate seasonal labour sourcing is the union's main issue of concern. Hence, the NFU has called on the government to introduce a new student workers scheme, which would be open to agricultural students from all over the world, to undertake seasonal harvest work.
The survey results are the first demonstration that, since the ending of the Seasonal Agriculture Workers Scheme (SAWS) in 2013, growers are struggling to source an adequate supply of seasonal workers to meet their needs, with 29% of respondents saying they experienced problems in 2015.
“Putting a new student scheme in place will attract young people who will bring skills that can help increase productivity in the UK. This will help avoid labour shortages and the potential consequences of higher food prices, increased imports and loss of full time jobs that seasonal work supports.
“When SAWS ended, the NFU predicted it would lead to shortages in seasonal labour in horticulture as migrant workers move into other sectors of the economy.”
Businesses employing a higher number of seasonal workers experienced more problems, with the labour-intensive fruit sector being most affected with 43% of respondents experiencing problems last year.
Some 53% of respondents expect an increase in labour costs this year, with this proportion rising to 84% by 2018. In addition, 66% of respondents envisage reductions in labour availability by 2018, with 43% believing that this will result in their business experiencing labour shortages.
Collectively, the 289 businesses that responded employed a total of 13,749 seasonal workers in 2015: approximately 34% of England’s average total seasonal workforce (40,819 seasonal workers).
Source: nfuonline.com
