The government has begun its search for two seasonal workers recruitment agencies following the announcement of its pilot SAW scheme.
Defra says it will make a decision on which operators will run the pilot scheme by 31 October, which will then be subject to Home Office approval.
After a lengthy campaign to bring back the SAW scheme, which allows farms to employ seasonal workers from outside the EU, the Home Office confirmed they would revive the scheme next spring.
Home secretary Sajid Javid said 2,500 workers would be allowed each season for fruit and vegetable production, under the pilot scheme.
The NFU said the decision was a “major victory” for people campaigning to recreate the scheme, but the 2,500 figure has been widely acknowledged as too small to fill the labour gap.
Concerns were also raised about who would run the scheme, with Nick Marston, chairman of British Summer Fruits, saying a concentration of recruitment firms might have some “undesirable effects”.
Defra said they are now looking for information from any organisation seeking to supply workers under the scheme.
“Defrais the endorsing government department, and is responsible for setting some of the key parameters of the pilot and for selecting two Pilot Operators. Once selected,Defrawill endorse these two Pilot Operators to the Home Office. If agreed by the Home Office, the two Pilot Operators will be able to apply for a license to run the Pilot.
“This document lays out the details of the Pilot,Defra’s expectations of any potential Pilot Operators, and it requests information from any organisation wishing to seek to operate the Pilot to enableDefrato assess their suitability.”
They gave a deadline for responses of 17 October, before making their decision on pilot operators by 31 October. Subject to Home Office approval, licenses will be granted to operators between January to March 2019.
