MEPs from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said the sector had half a million vacancies in August, representing one-eighth of all roles. Huge labor shortages in the food industry have led to the decay of uncultivated crops, the killing of healthy pigs on farms due to shortages of meat processing plants and the disruption of the food supply chain, as well as food security threats. Βασιλείου. The committee – chaired by Conservative MP Neil Parish, along with five other Conservatives, four Labor MPs and a Scottish National colleague – wrote in a report that the labor shortage was “the single biggest factor affecting the industry”. . The food industry is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, but lawmakers have issued a stern warning that it could shrink permanently if the government does not address severe labor shortages, which could lead to wage increases, price increases, cuts. competitiveness and, ultimately, in food production. exported abroad. They found that food and agriculture companies had been severely affected by the shortage of workers, with the pig sector being particularly affected, causing a crisis in domestic production. Industry associations had previously claimed that up to 40 independent farms had left the industry as a result. Farmers have long warned of a shortage of workers, as many overseas workers returned home during the pandemic, and Brexit has reduced the number of EU temporary workers who can travel to the UK on a seasonal visa program. work. The government has maintained the number of seasonal workers’ permits – for those coming to the UK to pick crops or flowers such as narcissus – to 30,000 allowed in 2021, resisting industry calls for a significant increase. Subscribe to the daily Business Today email or follow the Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The lawmakers wrote that “they had no doubt about the seriousness of the food and agriculture issues caused by the labor force shortage” and criticized the ministers for their approach to post-Brexit visa policies. “The government has not shown a strong understanding of these issues and in some cases has even tried to shift responsibility to the industry based on incorrect information about its own immigration system,” the report said. “The government needs to radically change its attitude and work with the industry to come up with solutions that will help address the problems it faces quickly, in the short, medium and long term, to help the UK food industry and enable it to thrive “. The lawmakers made a number of recommendations to the government in the report, including more timely announcements of temporary visa programs, the need to change the way it works with the industry and the need to extend the visa system for seasonal workers by 10,000.
