Speaking at the Balmoral Show UK AgSec says the govt is 'looking at things we can do on a short term basis between now & Christmas' in regard to the food supply labour shortage. Specifically if the focus of the seasonal workers scheme can be changed.
That scheme is currently only really about picking & packing fruit & veg. George Eustice says he hopes to be able to make an announcement 'shortly' adding 'there is an acute labour shortage across the UK economy.'
He says there'll also trying to encourage people who have settled status but who have left to come back.
He seems to rule out the sort of relaxations of rules for people from the Philippines that Stormont's AgMin mentioned yesterday.
Here's what Defra Ctte said last December: 'The Seasonal Workers Pilot for 2021 should be expanded to include other food supply chain & agricultural sectors beyond edible horticulture, & have a sufficiently generous cap that allows all businesses to recruit the labour they need.'
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
