Women are more likely to have higher levels of debt, underemployment and lower income while on the Seasonal Worker Scheme, a new report has found.
The report from Focus on Labour Exploitation, which collated its own and Defra’s data, has found that women on the scheme are more likely to have entered into debt to join the scheme and may face more barriers to recovering that debt. These include not receiving the pay they expected, or being assigned roles without the possibility for earning bonuses.
The organisation said there was a need for improved gender awareness on the scheme, as well as gender responsiveness labour market enforcement. The current risks could create situations where women workers felt dependent on their employer and unable to leave poor or exploitative conditions, it added.
According to the report, 27% of women said they had been paid lower than promised while on the scheme, compared with 16.4% of men.
Working hours was an issue for both men and women on the scheme. However, Flex’s research found that few working hours was an issue felt more acutely by women, with 21% reporting working fewer than 32 hours per week, compared with 11% of men.
Piece rates or productivity targets are also sometimes used on the scheme, which could lead to confusion, Flex warned. It found that women were often unclear on how these were calculated. Some 24% of women, versus 17.4% of men, reported not understanding how it was calculated.
Both men and women on the scheme reported not being paid for all their work or for all the pieces they picked. Again, women were more affected by this.
Read more: Why the UK seasonal labour worker scheme still isn’t working
Responding to the Flex survey, a higher percentage of women said they were sometimes or usually not paid for all the pieces they picked: 30.9% of women compared with 18.2% of men.
Additionally, Defra’s 2023 and 2024 survey data revealed a situation where it was more common for women to be paying for their accommodation, travel costs within the UK, travel costs to get to the farm, personal protective equipment, living essentials and laundry.
The report also found while not an answer option in 2024, in 2023 data, men were more likely to report not having to pay for any of the above once in the UK.
This was compounded by evidence in the Flex survey that found a higher proportion of women (76.8%) than men (69.9%) reported having taken out a loan to take part in the scheme.
Women were also more likely to have found that the information they had been given prior to coming to the UK was inaccurate, including on accommodation and job tasks.
In addition, the report highlighted concerns about welfare and safety, particularly for women on the scheme.
Read more: Seasonal workers to protest outside Home Office over conditions
In Defra’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 surveys, a higher percentage of women said they did not know how to raise a complaint if they were unhappy with their employment. According to Flex’s survey, more women than men said they had no information on changing employers.
“This briefing shows how gendered dynamics and discrimination can result in higher levels of debt, underemployment, and lower income,” said Kate Roberts, head of policy at Flex. “It also highlights how sexual harassment often goes unaddressed. We know from international examples that agriculture can be a very violent sector for women.
“All actors profiting from this scheme must ensure these dynamics are addressed in UK farming.”
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