In the agriculture and horticulture sector in Great Britain, tens of millions worth of food has already been wasted this year due to a shortage of staff. Since the introduction of Brexit visa rules earlier this year, the number of temporary work permits for EU citizens has more than halved. In addition, many seasonal pickers from last year have not returned.
Great Britain has approved about 38,000 visas for seasonal workers this year, but the sector says it needs approximately double that, nearly 70,000. Ukrainians had temporarily helped fill the gap, but since the Russian invasion of their country in February, many Ukrainians have remained in their homeland.
To address the shortages, Great Britain now has to recruit seasonal workers from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, and South Africa.
According to an NFU union survey among farmers, 40 percent complained they are suffering losses due to a shortage of pickers. To tackle the problem, the NFU wants the visa scheme to be expanded to allow for a minimum five-year program.
“It is downright a disgrace that food is being wasted at a time when families across the country are struggling to make ends meet due to rising living costs,” says NFU Vice Chairman Tom Bradshaw.
The union says expanding the British seasonal workers scheme is vital to ensure the country does not see a repeat of the “devastating amount of food waste” next year.