Migration Advisory Committee recommends maintaining Seasonal Worker Visas and enhancing flexibility in the application process

The UK should keep offering visas to seasonal workers and make the process more flexible, the government’s independent immigration advisory group said on Tuesday.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reviewed the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) and said it was in Britain’s interests to continue to allow people to apply for visas to “ensure food security.”

The body, which advises ministers on immigration, made a string of recommendations on how the scheme should operate in the future.

It stated that the farming sector’s reliance on migrant seasonal workers, for jobs such as fruit picking in the summer, is “unlike any other in the UK,” owing to “physically demanding low-wage seasonal work in often rural locations which can make the recruitment of domestic workers challenging.”

MAC Chairman Brian Bell said, “Our review recommends the SWS should continue to operate to ensure food security across the UK.”

Mr. Bell, who is also head of the economics department at King’s College London, added: “It is challenging for the agricultural sector to recruit domestic workers on a seasonal level, however, there must be greater consideration given to workers’ welfare and pay. More transparency and communication is key in combating any potential exploitation.”

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The MAC’s report stated: “Without the SWS, it is likely we would see a contraction in the domestic production of horticulture (and to a much lesser extent, poultry).

“Whilst this may not be massively detrimental to the UK economy due to agriculture’s relatively low economic contribution, it risks harming the nation’s food security in the future – the scheme is important if existing levels of domestic food production are to be maintained.”

It continued: “Advancements in automation may provide a possible alternative to migrant seasonal labour, however, current machinery is not sufficiently developed to eliminate the need for seasonal work.

“Further intervention from government, such as 0 percent interest loans or increased public investment, could accelerate automation in this sector and in turn reduce reliance on seasonal labour.”

‘Fairer Work and Pay’

The MAC has recommended offering “fairer work and pay” to workers, guaranteeing them at least two months’ pay to cover the cost of coming to the country and to lower the “risk“ low-income workers are ”required to take.”

It also advises the tightening up and enforcing of employee rights, as well as ensuring these rights are communicated to the migrant workers in their native languages.

A further recommendation from the body is making the visa more flexible to allow employers to “plan more efficiently and for workers to maximise their earnings without adding complexity to the route” as well as providing both employers and workers with “certainty” over the future of the scheme.

A government spokesman said: “We have committed to reforming the points-based immigration system with a joined-up approach across government.

“We thank the Migration Advisory Committee for their report, and will carefully consider their findings and respond in due course.”

According to the government website, “the Migration Advisory Committee is an independent, non-statutory, non-time limited, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues,” sponsored by the Home Office.

The committee’s members are Dina Kiwan of the University of Birmingham, Sergi Pardos-Prado of the University of Glasgow, Madeline Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, and Jo Swaffield of the University of Southampton.

It is supported by around 20 civil servants including economists, social researchers, statisticians, and policy and communications staff.

PA Media contributed to this story.