+33 680 38 14 46
Migrant curbs may be threat to fruit harvest
United Kingdom
Monday 05 May 2008
Fruit growers in the east of Scotland are facing possible disaster because of new government legislation which is likely to slash the number of migrant workers available to harvest their crops. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Scheme (SAWS) is now open to only Bulgarians and Romanians and the likely result is that the number of seasonal migrant workers coming to Scotland this year will be only around 16,000 compared with 25,000 last year.
Ukrainians, who have been coming to Scotland in large numbers for several years to pick fruit, are not now eligible under the scheme. The strength of the euro against the pound and better rates of pay in other low-skilled jobs also means that toiling for long hours in the fields of Angus is no longer the only option open to migrant workers.
John Gray, commercial manager with Angus Soft Fruits, which is based just outside Arbroath, said, “Without a doubt this is a matter of some considerable concern at grower level.
“If migrant pickers from eastern Europe do not arrive in sufficient numbers and in time for the start of the harvest season the soft fruit industry in Scotland could be facing a potentially disastrous outcome. “The worst-case scenario is that we do not have the people to pick the fruit when it is ready and it ends up rotting on the bushes. “It would be like a cereal farmer having a ripe crop in his field but no access to a combine harvester.
Angus Soft Fruits, based at East Seaton, is one of the country’s leading suppliers of strawberries and raspberries with contracts with most of the UK’s leading supermarket groups and a strong overseas market as well. Angus Soft Fruits has more than 20 growers in the UK and Europe and Mr Gray estimated that at least 95% of their seasonal pickers were temporary migrant workers from eastern Europe.
Ukrainians, who have been coming to Scotland in large numbers for several years to pick fruit, are not now eligible under the scheme. The strength of the euro against the pound and better rates of pay in other low-skilled jobs also means that toiling for long hours in the fields of Angus is no longer the only option open to migrant workers.
John Gray, commercial manager with Angus Soft Fruits, which is based just outside Arbroath, said, “Without a doubt this is a matter of some considerable concern at grower level.
“If migrant pickers from eastern Europe do not arrive in sufficient numbers and in time for the start of the harvest season the soft fruit industry in Scotland could be facing a potentially disastrous outcome. “The worst-case scenario is that we do not have the people to pick the fruit when it is ready and it ends up rotting on the bushes. “It would be like a cereal farmer having a ripe crop in his field but no access to a combine harvester.
Angus Soft Fruits, based at East Seaton, is one of the country’s leading suppliers of strawberries and raspberries with contracts with most of the UK’s leading supermarket groups and a strong overseas market as well. Angus Soft Fruits has more than 20 growers in the UK and Europe and Mr Gray estimated that at least 95% of their seasonal pickers were temporary migrant workers from eastern Europe.
