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Fall in seasonal EU workers is main fear at first immigration inquiry hearing Fall in seasonal EU workers is main fear at first immigration inquiry hearing
(about 2 hours later)
Next week Andy Coaten, managing director of horticultural business Butters Group, will need to hire an extra 100 workers to harvest and package roses ahead of Valentine’s Day. Most of these workers currently come from the EU. If there is a tightening of immigration controls once Brexit comes into force, the company will struggle to fill its Valentines Day orders.Next week Andy Coaten, managing director of horticultural business Butters Group, will need to hire an extra 100 workers to harvest and package roses ahead of Valentine’s Day. Most of these workers currently come from the EU. If there is a tightening of immigration controls once Brexit comes into force, the company will struggle to fill its Valentines Day orders.
“It will be really detrimental,” he told politicians at the first regional hearing of the home affairs select committee inquiry into immigration. In future the company may have to rely more on robots to pick flowers, he said. “Automation is an inevitability,” he said.“It will be really detrimental,” he told politicians at the first regional hearing of the home affairs select committee inquiry into immigration. In future the company may have to rely more on robots to pick flowers, he said. “Automation is an inevitability,” he said.
Launching the inquiry, MPs were hearing from agricultural businesses and recruitment companies that rely on hiring staff in the EU to work seasonally on farms, picking apples, salad, flowers and vegetables. All four representatives from these companies said they would struggle to fill vacancies with UK nationals if EU workers’ access to the labour market is limited following the implementation of Brexit.Launching the inquiry, MPs were hearing from agricultural businesses and recruitment companies that rely on hiring staff in the EU to work seasonally on farms, picking apples, salad, flowers and vegetables. All four representatives from these companies said they would struggle to fill vacancies with UK nationals if EU workers’ access to the labour market is limited following the implementation of Brexit.
For the first of a series of regional hearings into immigration, eight MPs travelled to Bedford to hear views from the agricultural sector, and also from residents and local politicians about the impact of immigration in the area, which voted 48.2% remain and 51.8% leave, almost exactly in line with the UK as a whole.For the first of a series of regional hearings into immigration, eight MPs travelled to Bedford to hear views from the agricultural sector, and also from residents and local politicians about the impact of immigration in the area, which voted 48.2% remain and 51.8% leave, almost exactly in line with the UK as a whole.
Yvette Cooper, the committee’s chair, said she wanted to encourage people to talk frankly about immigration. “It is an issue that as divided the country for some time,” she said.Yvette Cooper, the committee’s chair, said she wanted to encourage people to talk frankly about immigration. “It is an issue that as divided the country for some time,” she said.
“It is a difficult subject for politicians to talk about because people have such strong feelings; too often people’s approach is to either not want to talk about it all or to talk about it in an really simplistic way.“It is a difficult subject for politicians to talk about because people have such strong feelings; too often people’s approach is to either not want to talk about it all or to talk about it in an really simplistic way.
“But we can’t keep on ignoring it because if we do those divisions will just go on getting deeper and deeper. We want to hear from people about what are the reforms and changes that might build a new consensus.”“But we can’t keep on ignoring it because if we do those divisions will just go on getting deeper and deeper. We want to hear from people about what are the reforms and changes that might build a new consensus.”
Most of the 50 or so local residents who turned up were remain voters concerned about a hardening of attitudes towards migrants.Most of the 50 or so local residents who turned up were remain voters concerned about a hardening of attitudes towards migrants.
Asked for a show of hands on who felt immigration should be lower (a position held, Cooper said, by around two-thirds of the population nationally), no one put their hand up. Only half a dozen voted in favour of targeted immigration controls; the rest were in favour of a “relaxed and open” approach.Asked for a show of hands on who felt immigration should be lower (a position held, Cooper said, by around two-thirds of the population nationally), no one put their hand up. Only half a dozen voted in favour of targeted immigration controls; the rest were in favour of a “relaxed and open” approach.
Saqhib Ali, an accountant from Bedford, was one of a minority recommending migration controlled by skill set. “The fear of what uncontrolled migration does is what fuels Ukip,” he said.Saqhib Ali, an accountant from Bedford, was one of a minority recommending migration controlled by skill set. “The fear of what uncontrolled migration does is what fuels Ukip,” he said.
He added that he was at the meeting because he was “petrified at what is going on with Islamophobia” and was worried by the emergence of a “no Muslims, no Syrians, no refugee culture”.He added that he was at the meeting because he was “petrified at what is going on with Islamophobia” and was worried by the emergence of a “no Muslims, no Syrians, no refugee culture”.
The inquiry’s aim is to make a “positive contribution to developing an effective post-Brexit immigration policy”. It hopes individuals will come to the regional meetings to give their views on what approach the government should take to different kinds of migration – skilled to unskilled, students to refugees – and on what steps can be taken to manage the impact of migration in communities.The inquiry’s aim is to make a “positive contribution to developing an effective post-Brexit immigration policy”. It hopes individuals will come to the regional meetings to give their views on what approach the government should take to different kinds of migration – skilled to unskilled, students to refugees – and on what steps can be taken to manage the impact of migration in communities.
“Britain voted for change, especially on free movement, but there has been very little debate about what kind of reforms or immigration control that should now mean or how we get the best deal for the country,” Cooper said.“Britain voted for change, especially on free movement, but there has been very little debate about what kind of reforms or immigration control that should now mean or how we get the best deal for the country,” Cooper said.
Agricultural sector representatives said they have encountered a sharp decline in applications for work from EU citizens in the wake of the vote last June.Agricultural sector representatives said they have encountered a sharp decline in applications for work from EU citizens in the wake of the vote last June.
Beverley Dixon, director of human resources with Bedfordshire agriculutral company G’s Group, said in January 2016 she had received 750 applications from the EU for 900 seasonal jobs on its farms in the UK. This year she received 350. Beverley Dixon, director of human resources with Bedfordshire agricultural company G’s Group, said in January 2016 she had received 750 applications from the EU for 900 seasonal jobs on its farms in the UK. This year she received 350.
Partly this was the result of the devaluation of sterling, partly the uncertainty over EU workers’ longer-term right to work in the UK, but it was also the consequence of reports of violence and anecdotal evidence of hate crime, Dixon said. Potential employees were thinking twice about whether they wanted to settle in the UK, she said. Her company was also investing in mechanisation, to allow robots to take over, on the basis that labour was going to become harder to source. “The drawback is that it takes time; some of our products are delicate in nature,” she said.Partly this was the result of the devaluation of sterling, partly the uncertainty over EU workers’ longer-term right to work in the UK, but it was also the consequence of reports of violence and anecdotal evidence of hate crime, Dixon said. Potential employees were thinking twice about whether they wanted to settle in the UK, she said. Her company was also investing in mechanisation, to allow robots to take over, on the basis that labour was going to become harder to source. “The drawback is that it takes time; some of our products are delicate in nature,” she said.
Attempts to employ UK nationals to do picking work had proved unsuccessful, panel members said. Sarah Boparan, recruitment manager with Hops Labour Solutions, said her company had recently signed up 100 UK workers to join a farm-workers employment scheme but only one employee remained at the end of the scheme.Attempts to employ UK nationals to do picking work had proved unsuccessful, panel members said. Sarah Boparan, recruitment manager with Hops Labour Solutions, said her company had recently signed up 100 UK workers to join a farm-workers employment scheme but only one employee remained at the end of the scheme.
“The reliability is very, very low, even when we get them through the door,” Andy Coaten said. “The retention of Brits is very low.” They acknowledged that the seasonal, casual nature of the work was often problematic for people with families who live here permanently, trying to pay mortgages.“The reliability is very, very low, even when we get them through the door,” Andy Coaten said. “The retention of Brits is very low.” They acknowledged that the seasonal, casual nature of the work was often problematic for people with families who live here permanently, trying to pay mortgages.
“If the labour market was to tighten up we would struggle to fill those seasonal jobs with UK nationals because they want to have security,” Dixon said.“If the labour market was to tighten up we would struggle to fill those seasonal jobs with UK nationals because they want to have security,” Dixon said.
MPs also heard from Dave Hodgson, mayor of Bedford, who said that the town had historically had a good record at ensuring that its many migrant communities were well-integrated, but he warned that funding cuts for language courses were hampering ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone who wanted to learn English was able to.MPs also heard from Dave Hodgson, mayor of Bedford, who said that the town had historically had a good record at ensuring that its many migrant communities were well-integrated, but he warned that funding cuts for language courses were hampering ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone who wanted to learn English was able to.
Philip Simpkins, chief executive of Bedford borough council, expressed concern about how the council would fill its health and social care vacancies if firm controls of EU migration were imposed, adding the sense of uncertainty following the vote had been profound among staff employed in the council.Philip Simpkins, chief executive of Bedford borough council, expressed concern about how the council would fill its health and social care vacancies if firm controls of EU migration were imposed, adding the sense of uncertainty following the vote had been profound among staff employed in the council.
Residents’ concerns ranged from ethnic integration in the city to the importance of cultural celebrations. They were also concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers at nearby Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre.Residents’ concerns ranged from ethnic integration in the city to the importance of cultural celebrations. They were also concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers at nearby Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre.
Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who serves on the committee, was optimistic that the inquiry would help inform the debate on immigration, saying it was “good to get out of the hermetically sealed environment of Westminster”.Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who serves on the committee, was optimistic that the inquiry would help inform the debate on immigration, saying it was “good to get out of the hermetically sealed environment of Westminster”.
He added: “Immigration is a hugely complex issue with very different meanings and ramifications for different people and different parts of the countryside so it is right that we go to them and get their opinions at the sharp end. Whether we will be any the wiser by the end of it remains to be seen but it is a really worthwhile exercise.”He added: “Immigration is a hugely complex issue with very different meanings and ramifications for different people and different parts of the countryside so it is right that we go to them and get their opinions at the sharp end. Whether we will be any the wiser by the end of it remains to be seen but it is a really worthwhile exercise.”