JOHN Swinney has been urged to include a commitment to introducing national housing standards for seasonal agricultural workers in his Programme for Government.
The National has previously reported on the squalid conditions faced by many workers who arrive from abroad on a special visa to help in farms across Scotland.
The seasonal worker visa scheme was introduced in 2019 to fill labour shortages created by Brexit, after the departure of thousands of European workers who had traditionally travelled to the UK for harvest seasons.
A report earlier this from the Worker Support Centre (WSC) – a Scottish Government-backed charity supporting migrant workers which also signed the letter – warned that the structure of the seasonal worker visa leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
It also described poor accommodation standards as widespread across the sector.
Now, a coalition of labour rights organisations and trade unions has written to the First Minister urging him to take action.
The letter, signed by organisations including the STUC, Focus on Labour Exploitation, Work Rights Centre and the Poverty Alliance, calls on Swinney to use his Programme for Government on Tuesday to set out how the Scottish Government will deliver on its promise to introduce national housing standards.
“People picking our soft fruits and vegetables across Scotland risk living in squalid, dangerous conditions and paying high charges with no guarantee of a basic standard of housing,” the organisations warned.
They said seasonal agricultural accommodation is currently exempt from national housing legislation, leaving it “unregulated or monitored”.
The groups welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce national housing standards, first made in November 2025, but said there was an urgent need for ministers to follow through.
The letter added: “In 2026, many seasonal agricultural workers are still living in uninhabitable, squalid and dangerous living conditions with no protections, despite some paying around £2000 per month to share six people to a caravan.”
It also highlighted footage seen this year of workers in Scotland being forced to sleep on floors and living in “mould infested, damp and draughty units”.
The letter concluded: “The Scottish Government has conducted detailed research on this issue, met stakeholders and workers and committed to introduce national standards. We urge you to act now to close the gaps in protections that exist for people who are central to our food security and farming system.
“We look forward to hearing the Scottish Government’s plan to meet this commitment, making Scotland a country that welcomes every worker, and all workers can live in dignity and security.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Seasonal workers make a valuable contribution to Scotland, in particular to soft fruit and horticultural businesses, and we are seeking to ensure that standards are in place for all seasonal worker accommodation.
“The Scottish Government is exploring further work with stakeholders on how that can be best achieved.”
