Food industry demands urgent clarity on immigration after warning of EU worker shortage
3 min read
The UK's leading food industry body is urging ministers to urgently clarify the future of EU nationals, with a warning that nearly half of workers in the sector are considering leaving the UK.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) warned that over a third of its members' businesses (36%) would become unviable without access to EU labour, as 47% of workers consider moving away from permanent and seasonal roles.
In its survey of the "farm-to-fork" supply chain, 31% of businesses reported EU nationals leaving since the referendum, while 17% of firms said they may relocate overseas if they had no access to EU nationals.
The Government have offered assurances that those living here lawfully will not be asked to leave on the day Britain exits the union, however ministers have yet to set out their post-immigration policy.
A government spokesperson said: "In June we published our offer to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK, confirming no-one living here lawfully will be asked to leave when we exit the EU and they will have a grace period to regularise their status."
However the FDF have called for urgent assurances that there will be no abrupt reduction in the number of EU workers, which they say "would cause significant disruption to the whole food and drink supply chain".
The calls come after an Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee report warned of the a looming “crisis” in the sector unless steps are taken to fill the gaps in labour supply.
Ian Wright, the group’s director-general, said: "It is only a matter of time before the uncertainty reported by businesses results in an irreversible exit of EU workers from these shores.
"Without our dedicated and valued workforce we would be unable to feed the nation."
He added: "This is why it is imperative that we receive assurances from government about their future, and that of our wider workforce."
Last month the National Farmers Union said it needed further commitments that permanent and seasonal workers will remain in the long-run.
"The NFU cannot emphasise enough the urgent need for clarity and certainty on access to a competent and reliable workforce and all other issues relating to Brexit,” they said.
A government spokesperson commented: "After we leave the EU we must have an immigration system which works in the best interests of the UK.
"Crucial to the development of this will be the views from a range of businesses, including the agricultural, food, drink and manufacturing sectors.
"We will be setting out our initial proposals for this system in the autumn but we have already been clear there will be an implementation period after we leave the EU to avoid a cliff edge for businesses."
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