Half the respondents to a British Growers Association (BGA) survey have revealed that they will either leave the ethical audit or sign up to an alternative if forced to pay travel and visa costs of seasonal workers
A survey by the British Growers Association (BGA) has underlined the extent of producers’ concerns about proposed changes to the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), which they must pass to supply UK retailers.
Sedex, the global organisation behind the standards, is due to implement the changes in the latest version of the audit, SMETA 7.0, from 10 September 2024.
Almost 23% of respondents said they intend to resign their membership of Sedex if the changes come into force. Meanwhile, a further 23 per cent said they would stay in Sedex but sign up to GRASP or another ethical audit instead of SMETA. The remaining respondents would therefore not participate in SMETA.
But 37% said they would continue to use SMETA but only if retailers agree that they do not have to meet the employer pays and credible living wage sections of proposed audit.
The BGA survey was conducted in July 2024 and had 169 respondents. All were members of crop associations including British Berry Growers, Asparagus Growers Association, British Onions Producer Association, British Leafy Salads Association, Mushroom Growers Group, Rhubarb Growers Group, Leek Growers Association, and British Apples & Pears.
Speaking about the survey and growers’ concerns, Jack Ward, Chief Executive of the BGA, said: “We knew there were serious concerns among growers. But this survey has given the clearest indication yet of what growers may do in the face of several unworkable changes to this audit. Just under a quarter (23 per cent) say they will walk away from Sedex entirely.” He added: “Before that proper impact assessment has been completed, there is no place for this new SMETA standard,” he stressed.”
A third expressed concerns that once in the UK, a seasonal worker hired by one farm could potentially switch to working at a different farm at no cost to the new employer.
