NFU reiterates importance of seasonal workers for horticulture
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Monday, 06, Oct 2008 12:00
The NFU has met with the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to give evidence to their inquiry on whether restrictions should be lifted on nationals from Romania and Bulgaria.
The Committee was told that the labour intensive horticulture industry depends on seasonal labour and that for the past two years it has struggled to recruit sufficient workers. A recent survey by the NFU revealed grower’s businesses have lost an average of £140,000 in 2008 because of a shortage of workers.
NFU Vice President Paul Temple said: “The labour brought into this country for the horticulture industry via the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) is important to the industry and that is why there is the need for an increase in the size of the quota by at least 5,000 for 2009 and another increase in 2010.
“It is important for the industry to be able to plan ahead and as such, we are urging the Government to re-think their policy on the future of SAWS after 2010, so the competitiveness of the industry is not irrevocably damaged.
“This isn’t just about the visibility of crops being left un-harvested. It’s about growers having the confidence to plant crops in the first place.”
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The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members.
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