Reforms to the seasonal agricultural worker scheme and the apprenticeship levy are among the recommendations to emerge from an independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain, led by G’s chairman John Shropshire and published at the end of June.
The review, commissioned by Defra last year following Henry Dimbleby’s food strategy report, proposes extending the seasonal worker scheme to at least five years and the length of stay from six to nine months, and making scheme licences available to larger-scale growers or grower groups for direct recruitment.
A complete overhaul of the apprenticeship levy would make it more relevant to the industry, Mr Shropshire said.
The review also recommends roles for government in supporting the industry on the further development and take-up of automation, and sets out the industry’s own responsibilities in, for example, attracting and retaining permanent staff through better training and skills development and providing clearer career paths. Mr Shropshire said some of the reforms would reduce exploitation risks.
The seasonal worker scheme has come in for criticism from various quarters over the last couple of months. The House of Lords horticultural sector committee in June heard from three former workers on the scheme who described unhygienic and poorly maintained caravan accommodation, issues with pay and threats of being refused work or deported if they fell behind on picking rates.
In July a report published by the Landworkers’ Alliance focusing on the soft fruit industry in particular said high levels of debt put workers at increased risk of debt bondage.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the independent public body that advises the government on migration issues, is seeking views about the seasonal worker visa, and how well it works, from employers and employees as well as other organisations.
In March, MAC told the minister of state for immigration Robert Jenrick it was a good time for the scheme to be reviewed since it had been operating for several years. MAC chairman Brian Bell said it intends to consider all aspects of the scheme, including the need for it, the rules under which the scheme operates, its size and costs, the potential for exploitation and poor labour market practice, and evidence from international comparisons.
Growers who want to respond to the call for evidence can find the employers’ questionnaire at www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/Seasonal_Workers_Employers. The deadline for submissions is September 19.