Defra review raises ‘serious concerns’ for horticulture

• Big implications for UK growers

• Challenge for seasonal workers

• Cost of recruitment could soar

Requiring growers to cover all costs associated with seasonal workers under the Seasonal Worker Scheme would pose a huge challenge, says the NFU.

The warning follows a review into the Employer Pays Principle – the idea that no worker should pay for a job, with the costs of recruitment instead borne by the employer, rather than the employee.

The NFU said any additional costs that could be passed up the supply chain would put significant financial pressure on growers. Many growers operate on profit margins as low as 2%, it said.

Implementing EPP could force some growers out of business, said the NFU. While some growers may be able to pass on some extra costs, they would still face serious losses, potential closures, job cuts and reduced production.

Vital role

NFU horticulture and potatoes board chair Martin Emmett said: “Seasonal workers play a vital role in getting the nation’s favourite fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers onto supermarket shelves and without them the sector simply wouldn’t function.”

The review was jointly commissioned by Defra and the Seasonal Worker Taskforce. Mr Emmett said it confirmed what many growers had feared. “Expecting employers to cover all extra costs could seriously damage UK horticulture,” he said.

“Most businesses already run on very tight margins, so this would push some over the edge. That is at odds with the government’s Food Strategy ambition to provide more easily accessible healthy food for the nation.”

Mr Emmett said there were some gaps in the study. The review had overlooked numerous issues, he added. The NFU wanted to agree any next steps with the taskforce without risking the future of UK farming and food security.

“It didn’t look into the prevalence or scale of any possible worker debt. This is an important issue that requires further thought to determine the best way to address it while also safeguarding the future of UK horticulture and food security.

“Employers care deeply about worker welfare and are already working closely across the supply chain to improve experiences. This review is part of that ongoing effort, and we will work with the taskforce to carefully consider the findings.”

Workers pay cost of travelling to UK

Half of all seasonal workers coming to the UK pay for their own travel – despite  increasing pressure for employers to foot the bill.

A Defra survey polled more than 14,000 seasonal workers in the three months to March 2025. Nearly all respondents (94.4%) said they paid for their visa, while 56.7% of respondents reported paying for travel costs to the UK.

Aside from these costs, a small proportion of respondents also stated they incurred other pre-arrival costs, the most reported of these being migration or labour ministry fees (13.3%).

Most respondents said they paid their costs from their own savings (59.1%), with 27.4% paying their costs through loans from family and friends. Almost all (96.2%) were provided with a contract in a language they could understand.

Similarly, most respondents considered the information provided to them during the recruitment process as accurate. This included information on accommodation costs, pay rates and contract length.

More than nine out of ten respondents (96.2%) said they were paid for all the work they performed, with 96.7% provided with at least an average of 32 hours of work per week, and 91.4% working in the UK for over 4 months.

Responses to the survey indicated that workers on the Seasonal Worker visa route were content with their working and living conditions while in the UK, with nine out of 10 happy about their accommodation, pay, operator support, and safety.

Apart from essentials – such as food and accommodation – the most frequently reported costs while in the UK were travel to the respondents’ first farm and then between farms (42.3%).