| answer text |
<p>The ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak have meant that there will be a
shortfall in the numbers of workers who usually travel to the UK from Europe to work
during the harvest season, with the demand for workers peaking from late May through
the summer. We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure
our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people's plates over the summer months.</p><p>
</p><p>Farming leaders have already kick-started a recruitment drive for work on farms,
with thousands of British people already expressing an interest in picking up seasonal
agricultural work over the coming weeks and months. With many British workers furloughed
from their jobs, and students having to put their summer plans on hold, the Government
is supporting industry efforts to help farmers bring in this year’s harvest, working
to build on these numbers.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of roles for the early part
of the harvest season have already been filled. We are closely monitoring the situation
and we will shortly be launching a public- facing campaign to highlight the roles
available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply. The Government has
confirmed that those who have been furloughed from their jobs due to coronavirus,
and who are contractually allowed to work for another employer, can take on this seasonal
work.</p><p> </p><p>The Pick for Britain website is a recently launched joint Defra
and industry initiative to support this effort. The website will act as a central
hub to signpost people to the jobs available and to hold guidance and resources so
growers, workers and industry can have a single place to go, available at https://pickforbritain.org.uk/.
The website will also provide links to a wide range of recruitment campaigns organised
by labour providers. The Pick for Britain website includes links to the Government's
'Find A Job' website, which will give access to a wide reach of potential applicants.
The Find a Job website has more than 1.6 million registered users and is available
here: https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/.</p><p> </p><p>Our farmers are doing a fantastic
job of feeding the nation during this challenging time. To help our farmers, industry
Best Practice Guidance for employers of seasonal agricultural workers to avoid the
spread of coronavirus has also now been published, which has been endorsed by Public
Health England: https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses.</p>
|
|
