Only three days after our first press release warning that the cost of recruiting badly-needed overseas workers is stoking food price inflation, the government has made matters a whole lot worse.
In an address to Parliament, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen announced the following, which is intended to raise revenue to pay for public sector pay increases:
It’s the government’s contention that this will not be inflationary, but as Nick Allen, CEO of the British Meat Processors Association explains: “we know that many private employers are having to foot the bill for these charges to incentivise workers to come to the UK. These extra costs get passed on down the supply chain and end up increasing the cost of the goods and services that overseas workers produce.”
Even if the extra charges are to be borne by the workers themselves and not covered by their employer, the UK will become much less attractive as a destination for overseas talent, and the UK labour market will become even shorter of the skills and workers needed to grow the economy.
We’re yet to hear a time frame for introducing these price increases.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
17 Clerkenwell Green
Clerkenwell, EC1 0DP
Tel: 020 7329 0776