Migration advisers back extension to Seasonal Worker Scheme

The Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS), which provides visas for overseas workers to pick fruit and veg in the UK, needs further refinements to ensure it remains fit for purpose and secures the nation’s food security.

That is the view of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which has now submitted its review of the scheme to the new Labour government with a series of recommendations.

The MAC report acknowledges that much of the uncertainty around the future of the SWS was removed when the last government agreed to a five-year extension of the scheme ahead of the “farm to fork” summit at Downing Street in May.

See also: Industry leaders welcome five-year seasonal worker pledge

Currently, the SWS allows up to 45,000 visas for overseas workers to come to the UK for up to six months to help with picking fruit and veg, plus another 2,000 for the poultry sector from October to December.

The pre-agreed extension will allow for 43,000 visas in 2025, and that number is supposed to taper downwards “in order to encourage automation and domestic recruitment” over the next few years.

More certainty

One of the key MAC recommendations, therefore, is for government to provide further certainty “by confirming visa numbers and any further extension to the scheme on an annual basis”.

“The criteria by which future visa numbers could be tapered must also be made clear,” it says.

The MAC is also suggesting that visas be made more flexible, to allow workers to come for any six-month period in the calendar year, and that the scheme is tightened to better protect workers’ rights.

The report says such improvements are necessary to ensure food security, given the lack of domestic workers willing to pick fruit and veg, and the growing threats posed by climate change and the geopolitical situation.

Response

This view is endorsed by Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, who said there is really no alternative if the UK is to harvest its own fresh produce.

“Keeping our supermarket shelves stocked is dependent on workers coming to the UK to pick the crops,” he said.

“Yes, the previous government committed £50m to increasing automation, but that is going to take years to make a difference.

“Meanwhile, there are plentiful supplies building up in the rest of Europe just waiting to take our market if we fail to harvest our own fresh produce.”

Mr Ward added that the tapering down of visas for seasonal workers was still a concern, especially if it happens quicker than any automation coming in to replace human hands.

A government spokesperson said: “We have committed to reforming the points-based immigration system with a joined-up approach across government.

“We thank the Migration Advisory Committee for their report, and will carefully consider their findings and respond in due course.”