Home Office minister Phil Woolas has announced an increase in the size of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) quota, allowing 5,000 more workers into the UK.
Home Office minister Phil Woolas has announced an increase in the size of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) quota, allowing 5,000 more workers into the UK.
This year just 16,250 low-skilled workers were allowed into the UK for up to six months under the SAWS and the Sector-Based Schemes, but that figure will now likely rise by 5,000, with the decision up for review again in a year's time.
The horticulture industry has experienced difficulties in sourcing sufficient seasonal labour to pick fruit and harvest crops but it is hoped that the new move will ease this pressure. The decision is a reaction to restrictions made to SAWS in 2006 and threats to phase out the scheme in 2010.
Robert Mitchell, chairman of Concordia, told freshinfo: “The change is extremely welcome. All the time that SAWS is restricted to Romania and Bulgaria we need to be able to source more workers from those countries.
“We fully understand the current working conditions of six months on and off. In the current climate of high unemployment and the economic problems in the UK the basis of the SAWS scheme is perfect.
“This is a quick fix for 2009 but our long-term objective still remains. SAWS has been proven to be a good scheme and is due to end in 2010, we’re hoping to meet in the New Year to try to extend this.
“It has been an extremely long campaign and very much a combined effort with the NFU and SAWS. I would like to mention the efforts of Hugh Robertson MP [secretary to The Parliamentary Fruit Industry Group] who has been fantastic and brought our case to the House of Commons,” said Mitchell.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has lobbied the government hard over the scheme, which it sees as integral to farmers’ modern livelihoods.
NFU horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst said: “This increase in quota is good news and shows that ministers have listened to the evidence we submitted to them directly and via the Migration Advisory Committee. It makes sense that British growers are able to supply British fruit and vegetables in season, which consumers say they want, especially as food security is such a key issue.
Last year, ministers cited pressures on public services as part of the reason why restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria were put in place - however, rising unemployment, which this week hit 1.86 million, was a key factor in influencing the decision.
The SAWS scheme is a seasonal workers scheme that enables students, in the main, from EU countries to come to the UK and return home once the season closes. Numbers were reduced to 16,250, from 25,000 at its peak, in 2006.
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