Government announces first additional SAWS operator
The seasonal agricultural workers scheme was expanded to 30,000 permits in December
Farm labour crisis looming with Covid rates high in Europe
Thousands of new coronavirus cases have been recorded in key countries for recruitment, such as Bulgaria and Romania, over the past week
Real-terms funding for GLAA declines despite rise in cases
The GLAA’s accounts showed net expenditure grew 6% to £6.6m in the year to 31 March 2020, but Home Office funding only increased 2.3%
Fruit & veg industry ‘nervous’ over seasonal worker uncertainty
Chair of the NFU’s horticulture and potatoes board, Ali Capper, has warned the timeline for SAWS was causing ‘nervousness’
Growers welcome extension to post-Brexit seasonal workers pilot
The pilot scheme allows migrant labour to enter the UK to work for a six-month period
MPs urge government to change course on post-Brexit immigration
The Efra Committee suggested the UK could see food prices go up unless more was done to resolve questions around labour
Extend non-UK labour scheme or face price hikes and shortages, growers warn
Data from industry bodies showed the UK-resident workforce is not big or reliable enough to fulfil growers’ labour needs
Eustice accused of overstating Pick for Britain scheme impact
The environment secretary’s claim a third of workers in produce supply chains were British has been dismissed by industry sources
Expand SAWS or expect growers to close down, NFU Scotland warns MPs
The Scottish industry body has called for ‘urgent clarity’ ahead of the 31 December Brexit deadline
Food sector underprepared for cliff-edge labour crisis, MPs hear
Many businesses were not ready for new immigration rules and would stuggle to plan for their workforce, warned the FDF’s Tim Rycroft