Labour Supply –The biggest challenge for Horticulture in 2007

Growers from across the West Midlands are invited to attend an open meeting to find out about the changes in the way seasonal workers are to be recruited from Eastern Europe.

The meeting, organised by the NFU West Midlands Horticultural Board, will be held at the Three Counties Hotel, Belmont Road, Hereford on Thursday 23rd November at 7.30 pm.

Christine Lumb from Concordia, the leading supplier of overseas seasonal workers, will outline the operation of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and will also speak about the requirement to apply community preference in recruiting workers.

James Potter, the NFU's senior legal adviser, who also serves as one of the employers' representatives on the Agricultural Wages Board, will also talk about the workings of the Board in agreeing statutory minimum agricultural wage rates for the year and will provide an update on recent changes in UK employment legislation.

Anthony Snell, the Chairman of the NFU West Midlands Horticultural Board said: "An adequate supply of seasonal labour is vital for the production and harvesting of the range of soft fruit, and other horticultural crops for which the West Midlands is rightly renowned.

"The enlargement of the EU to include Bulgaria and Romania and the restrictions being imposed on workers from those countries coming into the UK are likely to have a significant impact.

"This open meeting is an ideal opportunity for all growers who employ labour to hear at first hand about these changes and what impact they will have on their labour supply."

To find out more contact Anthony Snell on 01989 730229 or Andrew Richards, senior policy adviser at the NFU West Midlands on 01952 409238.