The government has rejected calls for a seasonal agricultural workers scheme that would make it easier for people from overseas to fill temporary job vacancies on UK farms.
The UK horticulture sector currently employs 85,000 seasonal workers – and the industry expects that requirement to rise to 95,000 people shortly after Brexit.
But immigration minister Robert Goodwill said reports of a UK farm labour shortage following the UK decision to leave the EU were not supported by statistics.
As a result, the government would not introduce a seasonal workers scheme this year, he told the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee.
(Source: Farmers Weekly)
