Growers could face a devastating shortage of labour as the government allegedly plans to change the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme next year with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania (A2) to the EU.
The plans have been slammed by EU chief horticulture adviser Phil Hudson as “a horrible fudge.”
Although no formal announcement has been made, restrictions on access of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals to the labour market have been well trailed by the government with implications for SAWS.
“It seems that SAWS will only apply to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals as government policy is to trigger the preference for EU citizens,” said Hudson. But if the SAWS quota cannot be filled by nationals from these two nations, SAWS operators can fill their requirement from third countries. “But what is the test for this?” asks Hudson. “The fruit can’t wait while we try and find workers. This has raised an issue of real concern.”
The NFU has argued all along that transitional measures should not have been imposed on the A2 and that a threatened cut to the SAWS quota should not be introduced. Now Hudson and major SAWS operators are due to meet with Home Office officials on October 17 to argue their case. “We have been speaking to Defra at the highest level and previously Lord Rooker has been very supportive, but it appears the Home Office ministers have made up their minds,” said Hudson.
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