The UK faces increasing scrutiny over the treatment of migrant workers on its farms, as complaints of exploitation and poor working conditions rise. The government insists it takes decisive action when abusive practices are discovered. Meanwhile, the Worker Support Centre (WSC) reports a significant uptick in grievances from foreign labourers alleging mistreatment. The seasonal agricultural worker scheme, facilitating the entry of thousands of international workers into the UK, is in the spotlight as stakeholders debate its effectiveness and ethical implications.
In 2024, nearly 700 foreign seasonal agricultural workers lodged complaints with the WSC, highlighting issues such as bullying, underpayment, and substandard living conditions. This marks a sharp increase from just over 400 complaints in the previous year. In response, the Home Office has conducted over 318 farm inspections and interviewed more than 2,100 workers to ensure compliance and improve conditions.
"We will always take decisive action where we believe abusive practices are taking place or the conditions of the route are not met." – A Home Office spokeswoman
The Home Office's interventions continue to evolve, aiming to tackle exploitation and enhance worker experiences. However, allegations of modern slavery still emerge, as evidenced by the case of Ms Casimiro, who left her position at Hayford after only 11 days. An investigation revealed reasonable grounds to suspect she could have been a victim of modern slavery.
Haygrove, a key player in the industry, refutes claims of misconduct. The company attributes worker dissatisfaction to discrepancies in flight ticket costs and reduced work hours due to unforeseen weather conditions.
"never had accusations of this nature before in the history of our business" – Haygrove
Haygrove emphasizes its commitment to fair employment practices and worker well-being.
"We take great care in ensuring fairness and equality in our recruitment and working processes" – Haygrove
Moreover, Haygrove asserts compliance through routine audits by various authoritative bodies, including the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and the Home Office.
The government's seasonal agricultural worker scheme plays a crucial role in supporting the UK horticulture industry, with 43,000 visas available this year. An additional 2,000 visas support poultry farms. The program primarily attracts workers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, who are essential for managing harvest demands.
"take employee welfare extremely seriously and are continually adapting the way they operate to provide the best experience for workers" – The National Farmers' Union
The National Farmers' Union underscores the value of overseas workers to British agriculture. Despite challenges, many workers reportedly have positive experiences and return seasonally.
"a good experience in the UK which results in many returning to the same farms season after season" – The National Farmers' Union
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) survey conducted early last year found that 91% of respondents reported positive experiences working on UK farms. Nevertheless, the rising number of complaints suggests that not all workers share this sentiment.