British meat industry concerned about reduced access to skilled workers

The National Pig Association has called on the government to rethink changes to the Skilled Worker Scheme, which came into force in late July, amid concerns that they will also affect farms which rely on overseas staff. 

Following the post-Brexit pig sector labour shortages that contributed to the pig crisis of 2021 and 2022, the Skilled Visa route has acted as a viable alternative for pig businesses. For example, pork processing plants and some farms have brought over a number of people from the Philippines through the scheme, the industry leaders explained. 

However, changes introduced in July have raised the threshold for skilled worker visas from occupations at regulated qualifications framework (RQF) level 3 and above (approximately A-level skills) to occupations at RQF level 6 and above (mainly graduate professions). 

At the same time, salary requirements for work visas have been raised across all bands. For example, the minimum salary for standard skilled workers will increase by £3,000 to £41,700. 

‘Stronger controls to bring migration down’

NPA public affairs manager Tom Haynes said the change means a reduction of around 180 eligible occupations, including veterinary nurses, farm secretaries, farmers and butchers. The changes include transitional arrangements for existing skilled worker visa holders. 

Home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “These new rules mean stronger controls to bring migration down, to restore order to the immigration system and ensure we focus on investing in skills and training.” 

However, British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen expressed his concerns that the changes will leave the meat sector struggling to source labour once again.  

“It is a major concern and utter frustration for us that they keep turning the screw and making things more and more difficult, without really addressing the major problem of immigration,” he added. 

He said that raising the RQF threshold “effectively takes butchers out of the equation”, while the scheme has become even more expensive. He stressed that processing plants have, for many years, tried to attract local labour to do these jobs. 

“It is making food production increasingly difficult. The processors wouldn’t be doing it if they could get local labour. These people are coming in on good wages – those wages are being offered locally, and there are just not the takers for it. 

“There is no mobility of labour due to house prices and the cost of moving around. It is very hard to find people locally. It is not for want of trying,” the BMPA expert concluded.  

‘This route is going to be unworkable’

In its response to Baroness Minette Batters’ review of farm profitability, the NPA urged the government to rethink the plans. 

It reads: ‘While the use of overseas labour through the Skilled Visa route has been a feasible, albeit expensive, workaround, this looks set to stop,’ the submission reads. 

‘Following the government’s recently announced immigration rule changes, it would appear this route is going to be unworkable. Reforms remove a number of jobs from the scheme, including farmers, farm managers, butchers, and veterinary nurses. 

‘While we are of course supportive of efforts to train and recruit more domestic staff into these roles, this is a long-term ambition. We wish to see the government look again at these immigration routes, and specifically how we can once again recruit overseas labour.’ 

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