The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has acknowledged the Seasonal Workers Scheme (SWS) in its recent review. The recommendations from the review focus on providing certainty for the scheme's future, introducing more flexible visas, and ensuring fair work and pay for workers. The review also suggests enforcing employee rights and considering the 'employer pays principle'.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), expressed the union's appreciation for the recognition of the scheme's role in supporting domestic food security amidst global instability and climate change. Bradshaw emphasized the importance of certainty for the scheme, which aligns with the NFU's advocacy for government assurance on its continuity.
The NFU is committed to worker welfare and is actively working with the supply chain to ensure a positive experience for seasonal workers in the UK. The government's initiative to introduce a single enforcement body is also a development the NFU looks forward to contributing to, aiming to minimize regulatory duplication.
However, Bradshaw noted the need for further examination of the MAC's recommendations, particularly regarding the employer pays principle and employment duration, to understand their impact on the farming sector. The NFU advocates for a five-year rolling scheme and a review of associated costs to make the scheme accessible to all farming businesses, emphasizing the importance of certainty for the success of British farmers, growers, workers, and consumers.
Source: agriland.co.uk