The British government has stated that it will provide 43,000 visas for seasonal workers in the horticultural industry in the coming year with an additional 2,000 going to the poultry sector.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU), which stressed the importance of a stable, long-term visa system to help agriculture, praised the decision. This development is the result of the NFU’s steadfast efforts to draw attention to the critical role that seasonal labor plays in the UK farming industry an endeavor that they have supported for years, even during their resistance.
The Conservative administration extended the seasonal worker program to the end of 2024 earlier this year but uncertainty remained in the wake of the recent general election. The relevance of the program was previously discussed by NFU President Tom Bradshaw with former Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Following Labour’s election victory, Bradshaw reiterated similar concerns to Steve Reed, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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The news coincided with the release of Defra’s 2023 seasonal worker survey which found that 91% of respondents had a positive experience in the UK and 95% would wish to return.
According to Daniel Zeichner, Minister of Food Security, This government recognizes that food security is national security and that it can only be attained by providing strong backing for food and farming enterprises. He went on to say that growers now have the stability they need to plan and secure labor for the future thanks to this 2025 visa allocation.
By working with foreign partners to carry out compliance checks and worker welfare assessments, the government is also committed to enhancing labor access.
One of the ten main focal areas for the long-term success of the horticultural industry is labor availability, which continues to be a top concern for the NFU’s national poultry board.
Eligibility and Requirements for Visas:
- Applicants must be at least eighteen, receive a certificate of sponsorship from a UK company, and demonstrate that they have enough money typically at least £1,270 to support themselves in the UK to be eligible for a seasonal worker visa.
- Employers are required to make sure that jobs adhere to UK working hour laws and the minimum wage. A valid passport, proof of finances and translated documents (if not in English) are required of applicants. The sponsorship certificate must state if the sponsor can pay the upfront expenses.
Final Words:
The agricultural sector will receive much-needed stability in 2025 when the British government proposes to issue 2,000 seasonal worker permits for poultry and 43,000 for horticulture. This move which has the backing of the NFU is consistent with the call for a permanent visa system that is essential to the industry’s success. The NFU’s steadfast backing highlights the significance of seasonal labour in UK farming which was recognised by authorities after Labour won the election. Better labor access through increased compliance and welfare checks strengthens the government’s commitment to food security and agricultural growth.
