The British pig industry has asked farmers to fill in a survey to help inform the Government about post-Brexit immigration and labour policy - an issue of critical importance to the pig sector.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise the Government on how the UK’s immigration system 'should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy'.
The MAC is now seeking views from across the UK economy on various issues, including the extent of EU labour employed and the type of work performed, the benefits and disadvantages of EU labour and the likely impact of changes to its availability in future.
It is also seeking views on the relationship between EU and domestic labour and the issues around employing domestic labour, including skill levels and the provision of training by our educational establishments.
The National Pig Association (NPA) has been asked for its opinion, and this will help inform Government policy on post-Brexit migrant labour.
Earlier this month, the pig industry expressed concern following the publication of a leaked document giving an insight into the Government’s current thinking on post-Brexit immigration policy.
The document, leaked to The Guardian, shows the Government intends to be tough on immigration, ending the free movement of labour as soon as the UK leaves the EU.
Of particular concern for the pig sector, according to the NPA, are plans to curb so-called ‘unskilled’ workers from the EU by, for example, introducing a cap on numbers and a salary and skills threshold.
'Alarmed'
NPA senior policy advisor Ed Barker said the pig industry is "alarmed" by the Home Office’s suggestion that migrant labour from the EU should be severely restricted, particularly those who fall under the ‘unskilled’ definition.
He said: “Many workers in the pig sector fall into this category but are in fact highly skilled and make a significant contribution to the economy.
“We have made our position clear that migrant labour is integral to the businesses of NPA members; 58% of members indicated to the NPA’s migrant labour survey that they employed at least one migrant labourer, with 20% indicating they would struggle to survive without it.
“Whilst the paper refers to the ongoing work of the Migratory Advisory Committee, it is vital that the Committee is able to report its findings quickly, so that it can adequately shape Government policy.
“We note that the paper recognises the need for a sector by sector approach to business needs on migrant labour, and the NPA would urge that the pig sector should be able to state its unique case for continued access to migrant labour for permanent, ‘unskilled’ roles.”
