Farm workers reminded over ‘settled status’

Brexit: Must apply to UK Government’ s scheme

Farmers who employ seasonal or permanent workers from the EU have been reminded their staff need to apply to the UK Government’s settled status scheme by the end of June 2021 if they want to work here in future.

The UK’s agricultural industry relies heavily on staff from EU countries, particularly seasonal workers in the field vegetables and soft fruit sectors, and the farmers’ union has emphasised the importance of preparing for recruitment post-Brexit.

The government’s scheme gives “settled status” to EU nationals who have already been in the country for five years or more, and “pre-settled status” to EU nationals who have been in the country for under five years, including those working in the country this year.

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick encouraged farmers to remind their workers to apply for the scheme.

“Importantly, seasonal staff from the EU are entitled to apply for pre-settled status as there is no threshold for time spent living and working in the UK in order to make an application,” he said.

“This will be vital for any existing seasonal workers who wish to return to work in Scotland or the UK in the next five years.”

Mr McCornick also voiced concerns about the UK Government’s new points-based system for immigration, which he said would not provide enough flexibility to ensure jobs in Scottish agriculture or ancillary industries would be filled beyond 2021.

INDUSTRY: Agriculture relies on staff from EU countries, particularly seasonal workers in the soft fruit sector