The Government has announced that farmers in the UK will be allowed to recruit 2,500 non-EU migrants a year in a bid to alleviate an anticipated shortage of seasonal workers after the UK leaves the European Union.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for a special arrangement for short-term workers amid growing concerns over crops being left to rot on British farms because of a shortage of labour.
Under the new scheme, which will run for two years from next spring, non-EU nationals who travel to the UK to work on fruit and vegetable farms will be able to stay for six months before returning.
Announcing the scheme, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said that farmers are vital to the UK’s economy and the Government will look to support them in any way it can. He added that the pilot will ensure that farmers have access to the seasonal labour they need to remain productive and profitable during busy times of the year.
Meanwhile Environment Secretary Michael Gove said that the Government had listened to the “powerful arguments” from farmers about the need for seasonal labour.
The announcement was welcomed by the NFU, which described it as a “major victory”. A spokeswoman for the organisation said that it follows two years of evidence from the NFU, growers and MPs showing that a shortage of workers has been hampering food production.
The last such programme in the UK allowed migrant workers from Bulgaria and Romania to remain in the UK for up to six months at a time to pick fruit and vegetables. However, the route was closed at the end of 2013.