Allowing seasonal poultry workers from overseas to come to the UK will strengthen food security, say industry leaders,
The move is among a series of measures designed to support Britain’s £8.1bn poultry industry. It will see 2,000 visas issued for poultry this year under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers.
British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths said the decision was a big win for the sector. Producers and processors had suffered labour shortages driven by the effects of Brexit and compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, he warned.
“The visa scheme, combined with a review into labour challenges plaguing the food and farming sector, will play a meaningful role in ensuring certainty in our workforce in peak periods to guarantee the robustness of our supply chains.
Mr Griffiths added: “The seasonal visa scheme is an example of adopting pragmatic policies that not only strengthen our food security in the short term but paves the way for ambitious change in a thriving UK post-Brexit.
“If we are serious about addressing the growing risk of food insecurity in Britain, it begins with actively supporting those putting food on every table right now.”
