To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate any shortages of foreign workers caused by the operation of the seasonal farm worker visa scheme.
Answered on
4 January 2023
The Seasonal Worker route allows workers to come to the UK for up to six months to pick both edible and ornamental crops, enabling UK growers to access seasonal workers throughout the calendar year.
The UK government is committed to supporting the agricultural industry. The Seasonal Worker route will be expanded in 2023, with 45,000 visas available. The separate poultry quota will remain at 2,000 places.
This enlarged route will be kept under review with the potential to increase it by a further 10,000 if necessary, and is contingent on sponsors and growers improving and abiding by worker welfare standards, including ensuring workers are guaranteed a minimum number of paid hours each week.
Employers should look to recruit from the domestic labour market in the first instance which includes those who have EU settled status or others with status which provides general work rights.