BPC asks for a post-Brexit visa system for migrant workers in the industry
British poultry businesses fear the impact of Brexit on their enterprises. According to British Poultry Council representatives, 60% of the poultry sector’s workforce is from Europe and losses are going to be consistent if the migrant workers are forced to return to their native countries.
"Whilst there is a section on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and references to approach to EEA migration in Northern Ireland causing difficulties for the agri-food sector, it is disappointing that there is a lack of references to the impact of EEA migration on the need for permanent workers in the agri-food industries", said the industry body in a press release.
Right now, the sector accounts for 37,000 jobs, with 60% of the poultry sector’s workforce coming from the EU Member States. "It is vital that the UK secures access to high-quality labour by introducing a flexible visa system. Given that 60% of the poultry sector’s workforce is from Europe, and that Brexit could drive up the costs of labour by 50%, maintaining free-flowing access to migrant labour is crucial to the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry. For the poultry industry to thrive, we would like to see a post-Brexit visa system that allows migrant labour to enter the UK to do jobs that British labour does not presently have the capacity or inclination to take on", requires British Poultry Council.
At the same time, losing the workforce in the poultry sector will impact the consumer's budget, current projections indicating that there's going to be an increase of 25% in food prices.
"In the case of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, our producers’ nightmare scenario is a massive loss of workforce. This will have a knock-on effect on the cost of production which will affect the price of food. The latest economic modelling predicts prices rising by around 25% in the event of a no-deal", explained Richard Griffiths, British Poultry Council Chief Executive.
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