When
a country can count on about 1 million more people every four years,
it is almost impossible for GDP not to rise (financial crises
notwithstanding). Almost all migrants are working-age adults. The
Migration Observatory says the general trend is for individuals in
their 20s and early 30s to arrive in search of work, with most of
them landing a job quickly, especially women.
Yes,
they put pressure on housing supply and primary schools once they get
around to having children, but study after study has shown the UK is
a net
gainer from migration,
even the uncontrolled version courtesy of EU membership.
Thousands
of tonnes of fruit and vegetables are being left to rot in UK fields
because of a shortage of pickers and packers in the face of
continuing Brexit
uncertainty. Overseas workers, who account for the vast majority of
the horticultural labour force, have been unwilling to come to the UK
or have returned home early because of fears about their status in
the event of a chaotic exit from the EU. Farmers
are reporting a shortage of workers of 30% or more last month.
According to the trade journal The Grocer, some farmers are having to
shut down operations six weeks early because they do not have enough
workers.
Chris
Chinn, a blueberry and bean grower in Herefordshire, said he would
have to walk away from half his potential October crop because he
only had half the workers he needed.
“The
shortage of workers is the biggest threat to our business. Without
staff to pick crops like beans, where we don’t have an automation
option, then we cannot harvest them and they won’t be available on
supermarket shelves.”
This
year’s worker shortages are the latest in successive years of
labour problems which began in 2013 when the UK government ended a
seasonal workers visa scheme that enabled farmers to bring in pickers
and packers from outside the EU. That came ahead of workforce
shortages across the EU as Polish, Bulgarian and other eastern
European citizens, who had previously sought seasonal work in western
Europe, are increasingly able to find jobs closer to home. The UK has
suffered particular difficulties because of uncertainties about visa
status, the fall in the value of sterling which
has reduced take-home pay and
headlines about poor treatment of immigrants.
No comments:
Post a Comment