Agriculture firms fear a shortage of labour
POINTS-BASED IMMIGRATION
BUSINESSES fears labour shortages later this year, due to the immigration points-based system, with many fearing it will lead to more people being exploited by criminals.
Researchers from De Montfort University Leicester found many businesses in the edible horticulture and agricultural industries were concerned immigration rules designed to limit numbers of low-skilled workers coming to the UK would leave them short of staff to pick fruit and crops.
The value of home-produced fruit and vegetables was worth £2.3 billion in 2019.
Although workers will be able to come to the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Scheme (SAWS), they fear the numbers will likely fall well short of what is needed.
The SAWs scheme also does not cover the many thousands usually employed in the growing, picking and packing of flowers.
Experts in modern slavery believe criminals could take advantage of these labour shortages.
The university is working with consultants from NAC Solutions, and Mercaston solutions, on a study funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund.
Early findings suggest many companies are still unclear how the Home Office’s points-based system will work in practice, and have criticised a lack of information from the government about what processes and checks would need to be introduced.
Businesses said furloughed staff have been making up for some of the shortfall, but they fear that as these people return to work this source of labour will not be available.
Researchers said many smaller busi
ALSO ‘RIPE FOR EXPLOITATION’
nesses could close as they are unable to afford to implement legal alternatives to unskilled labour suggested by the government, such as robots and largescale automation.
One company told the team: “It will create the opportunities for exploitation, put farmers and growers into a difficult position and at risk of immigration enforcement action.”
Professor Dave Walsh, professor of criminal investigation, said: “Farmers and growers may be faced with a very stark choice of not picking their crops or using workers who do not have the right to work to pick them.
“Companies reported that this will allow criminals to prey upon vulnerability and increase the risk of exploitation.
“It was also suggested that workers would still come into the UK, possibly as visitors or by other methods, then disappear into the economy.
“Owing to their immigration status they would immediately become vulnerable. Exploiters will already be aware of this possibility and the opportunities it presents.
“Universally, it was stated that they expect to see increased risks of modern slavery and labour exploitation, summed up by one interviewee who told us ‘It will be a good environment for bad things to happen.’”
The research will continue until June. A report will then be created, detailing the project’s findings and will make recommendations to policy makers.