Temporary visas ‘desperately needed’ to tackle pig backlogs

Pig producers have accused the government of ignoring the crisis in their sector by failing to include pigs alongside poultry in its temporary visa scheme for foreign workers.

The National Pig Association (NPA) said more than 120,000 pigs are backing up on UK farms due to the labour crisis and the shortage of carbon dioxide gas faced by processors in the supply chain, which is used to stun pigs before slaughter at abattoirs.

Many pig farmers have run out of space, with many others at or close to the limit.

Consequently, preparations are now under way for a mass welfare cull of healthy pigs, which is “more likely” to happen on UK farms, the NPA said.

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Defra announced that up to 5,500 foreign poultry workers can travel to the UK to help maintain turkey supplies ahead of Christmas.

And 5,000 fuel tanker and fuel drivers will be able to work under the same scheme.

NPA chief executive Zoe Davies urged the Home Office to extend its offer of short-term visas to butchery workers to help avert the collapse of the British pig sector.

She acknowledged that this would only be a short-term fix, but it would help ease the chronic shortage of butchers in pork processing plants.

‘Rethink policy’

Longer term, she urged the government to take a fresh look at its immigration policy and recognise that some sectors, such as meat plants, cannot fill their labour requirements only with domestic workers.

“We desperately need government and retailers to help us reduce the backlog of pigs on farms to prevent them from being culled and thrown in the bin,” said Dr Davies.

“I continue to be amazed that we are even having to consider options like this and pig farmers don’t deserve to be in this situation.”

Lincolnshire pig farmer Sylvia Hook said her business was able to cope with its current staffing levels.

But she added: “The real concern is the slaughterhouses that are really short-staffed. If they don’t get up to speed quickly, they won’t be taking our pigs.”

The NPA added that retailers were increasingly attracted by very cheap EU pork, but they must play their part in reducing the backlog by prioritising British product over imported. 

‘Shocking state’

NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “We’ve got some massive challenges. We’re seeing them in the poultry sector at the moment – and why on earth government couldn’t add the words ‘and pigs’ to a press release I will never know.

“The pig sector is in a shocking state and was badly let down over these last few days.”

A UK government spokesman said: “We understand the importance of seasonal labour and we are aware of the challenges that the pig industry has faced in recent months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and labour shortages, and Defra has been working closely with the pig and processing sectors during this time. 

“We will continue to work closely with the sector and are keeping the market under close review, recognising the pressures industry is currently facing.”