The list of jobs eligible for a seasonal worker visa now includes roles in the poultry industry, a minister has said. Immigration minister Tom Pursglove said rules have been changed so farmers can hire foreign poultry workers to help fill staff shortages in the run-up to Christmas.
It means employers will be able to hire staff from overseas to fill such roles provided they are for at least 30 hours per week and the pay is a minimum of £10.10 an hour. In a written statement to Parliament published on Tuesday, Pursglove said: “The seasonal worker visa route is being expanded to include roles in the poultry sector, to support a genuine seasonal labour need in the lead up to Christmas, not evident in other sectors.
“Poultry workers under occupation code 5431 (butcher) or 5433 (for example, processor) must be paid at least £25,600 each year. All other poultry workers must be paid £10.10 for each hour worked and receive at least 30 hours’ paid employment each week. These requirements are in place to discourage poor conditions often seen in the sector.”
Thousands of additional workers are required by the meat processing sector to slaughter and prepare the 10 million turkeys eaten in the UK every Christmas. The situation was made worse when Brexit meant many foreign workers retuned home.
An added threat this year to the traditional Christmas dinner is bird flu. The worst outbreak in UK history is threatening to put supplies at risk, the National Farmers Union has warned.
