Brexit : Government must act to stop staff shortages pushing up food costs, MPs warn

Businesses facing a ‘cliff-edge’ with no clear plan how to move forward

Ministers must intervene to prevent Brexit driving up food prices up as foreign workers leave the UK, an influential group of MPs warns today. 

EU nationals account for the majority of workers in key sectors including meat processing and picking crops, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Efra) said.

Neil Parish, the chair of the committee, warned that with freedom of movement for EU citizens due to end with the transition period at the start of January the government was “effectively turning off the tap for employers, without giving them time to adapt”.  

Many businesses were facing a “cliff-edge”, with no clear plan about how to move forwards, he said.  

“If British farmers and food producers can’t get the workers they need, we all risk higher food prices or more cheap imports produced to standards we wouldn’t tolerate here.”

The committee’s report calls on ministers to immediately confirm the number of visas that will be issued next year under the Seasonal Workers Pilot, so farmers know whether or not they will have the staff needed to harvest their crops.  

With the coronavirus pandemic and the end of the Brexit transition period, MPs said the cap should be high enough to ensure farmers will not struggle to recruit staff.  

At the weekend The Independent reported that ministers are set to treble the number of foreign workers allowed into the UK to pick fruit and vegetables, amid fears over rotting harvests.  

An expected 30,000 temporary staff will be given permits in 2021, up from 10,000 this year.

Today’s report also calls on the government to follow the advice of its own advisers and place critical roles such as butchers, meat hygiene inspectors and veterinary nurses on the Shortage Occupation List.  

Mr Parish said: “Leaving the EU means that the food supply sector will need to be weaned off its reliance on European workers. This could be a great opportunity for UK workers in the long-term, if employers are forced to improve pay and conditions. But this will take time.”