The food sector has responded positively to the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) latest review of the Seasonal Worker scheme. The review underscores the necessity of the scheme in the short to medium term, providing stability for businesses heavily reliant on migrant labour.
The MAC put forward five recommendations, advocating for increased governmental assurances about the scheme’s continuity, including a five-year notice period prior to any closure. Additionally, the review calls for more flexible visa regulations, allowing employers to plan better and enabling workers to optimise their earnings. This could involve reducing the 'cooling off' period from six to three months and permitting employment during any six-month period within a calendar year.
However, the MAC identified significant gaps in pay data for visa holders, hindering effective oversight. It recommended guaranteeing at least two months’ pay for seasonal workers to cover their costs and mitigate the financial risks for low-income earners. Simplifying the process for pension enrolment refunds was also advised.
Acknowledging a power imbalance between employers and workers, the MAC praised efforts by many employers to enhance worker welfare but noted that some still lagged behind. Concerns were also raised about unofficial agents charging fees abroad, leading to worker indebtedness.
The MAC proposed a more coordinated approach to worker welfare, with clear responsibilities delineated among involved bodies. It also stressed the importance of communicating worker rights in the workers' native languages. Tom Bradshaw reiterated the NFU’s commitment to improving worker welfare and highlighted the government's promise to introduce a single enforcement body, while cautioning against excessive regulatory duplication.
A notable MAC recommendation is the 'employer pays principle', suggesting a more equitable distribution of visa and travel costs along the supply chain. This follows a controversial update to the SMETA audit by Sedex, mandating that agricultural businesses cover recruitment and transport expenses for seasonal workers. The NFU has criticised this change, projected to cost the industry an additional £90 million annually, as impractical and inconsistent.
Bradshaw indicated the need for further examination of these recommendations to understand their impact on the diverse farming and growing businesses. He called for a new government commitment to a rolling five-year scheme, emphasising that certainty is crucial for the success of British agriculture.
"Certainty is the currency with which businesses trade, and having this commitment would help to restore some of the lost confidence of British farmers and growers," Bradshaw concluded.
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