Migrant workers arriving in Northern Ireland via the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme are now exempt from the Covid-19 related travel restrictions which apply in the province.
Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said, “I am pleased to announce that exemptions from certain Covid-19 regulations have been put in place for seasonal agricultural workers arriving in NI to work on edible horticulture farms. Access to seasonal workers is essential to the continued viability of the edible horticulture sector and given the relatively short timeframe of the visas, these exemptions will ensure that there is no time wasted when workers arrive here, and farms can benefit from the extra labour immediately.
“It is critical that we all continue to follow the Covid regulations, as put in place by the Department of Health. The amendments to the regulations for seasonal agricultural workers mean that workers will be able to avail of an exemption from self-isolation while working if they undertake Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests on days two, five and eight following arrival.”
The move came as the NFU in England warned that farmers and growers are increasingly concerned about workforce shortages despite having robust Covid security plans in place. NFU vice president Tom Bradshaw commented, “It is important to think about the whole food supply chain right back to farm because they produce the food that keeps processing plants and distribution centres going.”
Photo Caption: Edwin Poots MLA