Migrant worker proposals concern

Commenting on the potential impact of the new immigration policy announcements, UFU deputy president David Brown said: “Northern Ireland’s (NI) agri-food processing sector is already finding it difficult to maintain labour all year round and in addition to this, securing access to temporary workers going forward may also be challenging. There are a number of elements within the points-based immigration system that are not very clear, and we would need also need further clarification on the specific matter of seasonal workers.

“The agri-food industry in NI must be able to retain access to non-UK labour and given the border with the Republic of Ireland (ROI), it should be treated differently to other parts of the UK. In excess 60 - 70 percent of those working in our agri-food processing sectors are EU citizens. If free movement of workers is not allowed, it will undermine the position of our processors and our wider industry who will not be able to compete with their counterparts south of the border.”

According to the UFU, the government’s announcement will also have specific severe consequences for the Northern Ireland horticulture industry. Both growing and processing are highly dependent on access to non-UK labour.

“The points-based immigration system has the potential to bring huge ramifications for both the growing and processing horticulture sectors.

“The feared outcome could shift production from Northern Ireland. The implications of which will create a greater dependency on imports and will have serious environmental implications, especially for crops that are traditionally grown here,” said Mr Brown.

The UFU have already raised this issue with the NI Assembly Agriculture Committee and will continue to monitor and review the new immigration policy on behalf of members and the wider industry.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has said EU and other overseas workers are the backbone of the agriculture and agri-food industries in Northern Ireland

The agriculture spokesperson said:  “Over 10,000 people from EU and overseas work in the farming and food sectors in the north, and many more are seasonal migrant workers who come here during harvest times. 

“A high percentage of those who work in the food processing sector are new nationals who have come to make their home there. 

“They are the backbone of the sector and much of our food and drink and, in turn, our hospitality sector is dependent on their labour. 

“Tory plans to label them as ‘low-skilled’ workers are an insult to these workers who bring many skills with them and make an essential contribution to our economy.

“It is crystal clear that the British government’s new immigration policy has completely ignored our unique and special circumstances.”

Responding to the latest government proposals on immigration, Michael Bell, Executive director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) said: “These are already challenging times for Northern Ireland industry.

“We are concerned about the cumulative impact of the changes Brexit will bring for businesses here in Northern Ireland, with the prospect of tariffs, SPS measures and now losing access to the EU labour market.

“The government is pushing for industry to move towards further investment in automation, but the reality is that in many cases, the technology is still not there and even then many roles within the sector are difficult to automate.

“We will continue to engage with the government and make clear that it is essential that any immigration strategy takes into account the specific needs of industry in Northern Ireland – addressing the gap in higher skilled roles across various sectors while also maintaining access to the EU market for lower qualified roles.”