British Berry Growers fear new audit rules will add cost burden

Visa and travel costs for seasonal workers should not automatically fall to employers, according to industry body British Berry Growers.

Global auditing organisation Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) requires employers to pay for seasonal workers’ transportation costs under its current audit standard.

However, British Berry Growers, which represents 95% of all soft fruit growers, has suggested that these rules imposed by Sedex are in contradiction to guidance through the government’s Seasonal Workers Scheme.

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Existing government guidance states that visa costs for seasonal workers are not required to be paid by the employer and travel costs should only be paid if the employee is given no choice over the route, method and cost of travel.

British Berry Growers’ position is that the burden of cost cannot be absorbed by members without it being underwritten by either retailers or the government, and it should be removed from the audit standard until there is an agreement by industry.

Nick Marston, chair of British Berry Growers, said: “British berry growers employ thousands of seasonal workers each year to help pick berries and work on our farms.

“The new SMETA [Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit] 7.0 auditing requirements could cost the berry industry an extra £60 million per year.

“That is simply unsustainable and could wipe out the berry sector at a stroke.

“The new requirements have been introduced without proper consultation and ahead of a BRC (British Retail Consortium) and Defra impact assessment into the workability of the employer pays principle.

“That assessment is due to be completed in Spring 2025. Right now, there is no clarity on how the supply chain is going to pay for these new requirements, we are very concerned that growers could be forced to foot the bill. A bill they simply cannot afford.”

Government support

Overseas seasonal workers continue to play a pivotal role in the UK food supply chain, especially within the fruit and vegetable sector.

Fruit and hop grower and Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) director, Ali Capper, welcomed the Labour government approach to seasonal workers.

“A move away from a hard right immigration policy is very welcome,” said Ms Capper.

“This new government’s outlook towards seasonal labour seems much more common sense.

“The bottom line is we can’t pick fruit and vegetables without hands and anything that makes getting those workers out in the field must be good news.”