Government accused of 'wholly inadequate' response to committee calls over labour shortages

In its response published to The Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee labour shortages report published in April, the Government did not accept the committee’s recommendation to lower the English language requirement for Skilled Worker Visa applicants in the food and farming sector such as butchers. 

It has also rejected the committee’s recommendation to undertake a 'lessons learnt' exercise on the temporary short-term visa schemes established last autumn and has turned down the suggestion to make the Seasonal Workers Pilot a permanent scheme. 

Seasonal worker visas

However, the Government has announced that 10,000 additional seasonal worker visas will be issued for the remainder of 2022, of which 2,000 will be allocated to the poultry sector. EFRA also said that it will commission an independent review to tackle labour shortages in the food supply chain. 

In the light of the government’s response, the committee has written with its findings to the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, David Neal,  who recently announced he would be carrying out an inspection of the immigration system as it relates to the agricultural sector.  ​

“The government’s overall response to our recommendations is wholly inadequate. We continue to be concerned that labour shortages in the food and farming sector pose real risks of further price rises for consumers in supermarkets, reduced UK competitiveness and increased amounts of imported food,” said​ chair of the EFRA committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP.  

Robust immigration

“The government really must listen to the experts – our farmers and our food producers. We need a more robust immigration regime that allows the farming and food sector to plan ahead with certainty and grow their businesses. Otherwise, we are placing in danger the very future of the sector.”​ 

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border and Member of the EFRA Committee said: “Our cross-party EFRA Select Committee is very disappointed with the Government’s response to our recommendations on labour shortages in the food and farming sectors. From people to help harvest crops, to abattoir and food processing workers, to vets, we urgently need to shore up the labour needs in these vital sectors.”​ ​

Hudson added that this is about bolstering food security, supporting rural businesses, and protecting animal health and welfare.

“We are calling on the Government to step up and act in the national interest and to ensure that high quality sustainable and locally-produced food can continue to be accessible in our households,” he​ said. 

This news comes as the EFRA Committee has also raised concerns about supply and high price of fertiliser in the UK in the wake of the war in Ukraine and a decision by a key UK producer not to re-open a production facility in Chester.