Labour group demands baseline conditions for seasonal workers

A workers’ group has called on government to introduce better working conditions and minimum accommodation standards for seasonal workers.

The Worker Support Centre (WSC) was established to provide a voice for foreign agricultural workers in the UK and to help resolve any disputes between workers and employers.

It was contacted by seasonal workers based on more than 50 different UK farms during the first half of 2024 and advised on cases involving more than 400 workers, with many cases linked to poor working and living conditions.

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Visas provide foreign workers with the right to come to the UK for work within the horticultural sector for up to six months each year, and workers are guaranteed to be paid at least the national minimum wage.

Caroline Robinson, WSC executive director, said: “The way this visa has been designed leaves workers highly dependent on their employer, for their status, pay, housing and employment.

“It is now incumbent on government to take action, to review the situation for workers to ensure they are legally entitled to a minimum standard of accommodation and to set about enforcing it.”

A mid-year report published by the centre outlined dismissals and pay related pressure, poor housing, health and safety, and inaccessible transfers as the main issues affecting workers.

Valeria Ragni, WSC centre manager, said: “We have seen an increase in workers raising issues this year and, significantly, sharing the serious impact of such conditions on their physical and mental wellbeing.

“Workers contacting us during 2024 raised issues related to very poor housing standards including damp, black mould, cold and draughts, broken furniture and extremely cramped conditions.”

Seasonal agricultural workers in England can be charged up to £9.99 a day for tied accommodation.

Typically, workers are based in caravans of up to six people, which can result in a monthly revenue of about £1,800 per caravan.

More than 80 workers from across 16 different farms contacted the WSC over housing issues between January and June this year.

The number of workers contacting the WSC over pay disputes doubled to 47 in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, 33 individuals raised issues related to health and safety.