Government response to labour shortages disappoints

The Government has responded to John Shropshire's Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain. While some measures like regional recruitment strategies are to be applauded, the more fundamental issues like housing availability near meat plants also need addressing.

We are disappointed that there has been no movement on the newly introduced minimum salary requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa. We have repeatedly explained that, far from undercutting British labour, the new £38,700 requirement far exceeds the average salary of a British meat plant worker and would contribute to significant food price inflation.

Given the difficulty of recruiting UK workers, we would again call for butchers to be placed on the new Immigration Salary List which would bring migrant wages back in line with UK workers. In an interview on Farming Today this morning, John Shropshire talks about the unique challenges to the meat industry.

Listen (at 8:36 Minutes)