BPC urges UK Gov to launch workforce scheme for two years
The poultry industry was granted 5500 temporary work visas to support short term seasonal supply following calls to extend the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Scheme to the sector. The scheme has proven successful this year but has undoubtedly demonstrated the importance of adopting realistic policies that enable British businesses to drive productivity, create good jobs and keep food moving to strengthen food security for Christmas and beyond.
BPC Chief Executive Richard Griffiths said: “We must not forget that the problems we have seen with seasonal production are reflective of long-term, year-round production. Christmas has been a successful first step and demonstrates the potential there is for Government and industry to collaborate to turn the challenges faced with labour into an opportunity for change. Whilst industry plays its part investing in automation and upskilling to build that home-grown workforce, a scheme designed for non-UK poultry workers to enter the UK over a period of eighteen months to two years must be realised to ensure productivity does not decline.
If we can collaborate as successfully as we have done with seasonal production, then we have the means to transform the longer-term year-round labour challenge into an opportunity to bolster UK food security, create good jobs, allow viable businesses to flourish and create a greener food sector.”
As producers of half the meat eaten in this country, the British Poultry Council is asking for:
- The implementation of a similar scheme designed for non-UK labour to enter the UK over a period of two years to ensure industry has the space and time to upskill a British workforce and invest in new technologies. The announcement of the scheme must take place in Spring 2022 to make the opportunity meaningful to both employers and employees.
- Financial support from Government-backed loans to help businesses accelerate investment plans to automate and upskill the British poultry meat industry as quickly as possible.
- Vital food production to be kept at the heart of skills and education programmes such as the Lifetime Skills Guarantee to support meaningful change that will maximise the productivity of a future-proof sector. Proper investment in the Apprenticeship Levy will support in levelling up the appeal of the sector to build a skilled UK workforce.
The British poultry industry understands that this is a process that will take time and are asking for support to ensure that the right technology is rolled out, the right skills programmes are in place and the right investments are made to maintain the integrity of supply chains, BPC said in a statement. “Technology, a focus on skills and education and a non-UK workforce can coexist temporarily to avoid jeopardising our ability to feed the nation,” added Mr Griffiths.
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