The government confirmed this week that it will make 45,000 visas for seasonal workers available to horticulture businesses in 2023.
The move will enable horticulture businesses to recruit foreign workers for periods of up to six months via the Seasonal Worker visa pathway. The 45,000 number is also a 15,000 increase in headcount on what was available to horticulture operators at the beginning of this year.
The government has said that it will keep the 45,000 figure under review and could increase it by up to 10,000 if deemed necessary.
With the Seasonal Worker visa route providing short-term work placements, any uptake will not count toward net migration since workers won’t qualify for long-term migrant status.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that the move will provide a boost to farmers and British food production by tackling labour shortages.
Alongside expanding the number of visas available, the government will recruit new scheme operators to oversee the new visa route and guarantee worker welfare.
The first 4,000 visas will be made available from the week commencing December 19 and will be targeted at daffodil growers.
Any businesses benefiting from Seasonal Worker visas must abide by worker welfare standards and guarantee a minimum number of paid hours per week, with DEFRA’s new operating team ensuring compliance.
Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Mark Spencer, said: “Seasonal labour has long been part of the UK’s rural economy, and while it is right that we offer long term support to increase the use of domestic labour, we also need to support businesses on the back of what has been a challenging year for food producers.
“That’s why we’ve listened to the UK’s horticulture sector, and today’s announcement will provide our growers with the labour they need to bring in the harvest and continue to put their produce on our tables.”
In the background, DEFRA is working closely with the industry and the Department for Work & Pensions to promote opportunities in the food and drink industry to the domestic workforce.
Ministers also recently announced a £12.5 million cash injection into automation on farms, under the wider £270 million Farming Innovation Programme. This investment will help support research and development in agriculture and horticulture.
Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash
