Ukrainian fruit and veg pickers in the UK at the outbreak of war are in a panic over what Priti Patel ’s visa changes mean for them.
The Home Secretary has extended their six month seasonal worker visas until the end of the year.
But it is unclear how they can support themselves as the visas only allow them to work for the operator who sponsored them.
They do not know whether contracts will be extended, or whether those who left jobs will be allowed to find another elsewhere.
Boss of charity Work Rights Centre Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol said: “Our phones have been ringing off the hook with calls from people who are desperate.
“They could have lost the relationship with their sponsor. And they can’t return to Ukraine so they’re basically stranded.”
Immigration minister Kevin Foster caused outrage last week when he said Ukrainians escaping the Russians could come to Britain as seasonal workers. He later deleted the tweet.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “People are fleeing war in Europe. Yet the immigration minister says the answer is to put in an application to pick Britain’s fruit & veg.”
An estimated 17,000 Ukrainians came to Britain last year under the seasonal scheme - which allows 30,000 foreign agricultural workers temporary residence in the UK.
The visas were introduced after Brexit to plug labour shortages EU citizens had previously filled without the need for paperwork.
Visa holders cannot take up permanent jobs or bring family members with them.
And some have complained to the Work Rights Centre about how they had minimum wages docked to pay for gas, the use of washing machines and transport.
Ms Patel was in Poland on Friday to meet Ukrainian refugees crossing the border at Medyka.
She said: “It’s heart-breaking to have met families, women and children forced from their homeland because of the monstrous Russian invasion.”
- Ukrainians in need of visa advice can go to https://www.workrightscentre.org/
