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| Tiptree jam-maker criticises move to scrap migrant scheme | Tiptree jam-maker criticises move to scrap migrant scheme |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The director of a renowned jam-maker has spoken of his "frustration" at a decision to scrap a scheme allowing migrants to work on British farms. | The director of a renowned jam-maker has spoken of his "frustration" at a decision to scrap a scheme allowing migrants to work on British farms. |
| The government is ending the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) which has seen 22,000 Bulgarians and Romanians employed. | The government is ending the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) which has seen 22,000 Bulgarians and Romanians employed. |
| Since 1953, thousands of people have picked fruit for Tiptree jam makers Wilkins & Sons under the scheme. | Since 1953, thousands of people have picked fruit for Tiptree jam makers Wilkins & Sons under the scheme. |
| Chris Newenham said it was a "shame" the scheme had been "binned so easily". | Chris Newenham said it was a "shame" the scheme had been "binned so easily". |
| "It's a great disappointment and frustration as the scheme worked well and was acclaimed by everyone," Mr Newenham told BBC Sunday Politics. | "It's a great disappointment and frustration as the scheme worked well and was acclaimed by everyone," Mr Newenham told BBC Sunday Politics. |
| "I think it's a shame it has been binned so easily." | "I think it's a shame it has been binned so easily." |
| Costs surge | Costs surge |
| The government wants the jobs to go to unemployed British people but farmers say they are not as efficient. | The government wants the jobs to go to unemployed British people but farmers say they are not as efficient. |
| But it will close when labour market curbs for workers from those countries are lifted at the end of 2013. | But it will close when labour market curbs for workers from those countries are lifted at the end of 2013. |
| A report by the Migration Advisory Committee earlier this year warned scrapping the seasonal workers scheme could also trigger a surge in labour costs and ultimately higher prices for fruit and vegetables. | A report by the Migration Advisory Committee earlier this year warned scrapping the seasonal workers scheme could also trigger a surge in labour costs and ultimately higher prices for fruit and vegetables. |
| Dezi Pavlova, a 24-year-old student, has come to Essex to pick fruit for the past six years and earns £320 a week. | Dezi Pavlova, a 24-year-old student, has come to Essex to pick fruit for the past six years and earns £320 a week. |
| She said she meets a lot of people at the camp where she lives in a furnished static caravan. | She said she meets a lot of people at the camp where she lives in a furnished static caravan. |
| 'Many unreliable' | 'Many unreliable' |
| "They come not only from Bulgaria but from all over the world," she said. | "They come not only from Bulgaria but from all over the world," she said. |
| James Hallett, from the British Growers Association, said he would like to employ British workers but they cost five times as much as Eastern Europeans to train. | James Hallett, from the British Growers Association, said he would like to employ British workers but they cost five times as much as Eastern Europeans to train. |
| He added: "Many are unreliable, less efficient and not able to make it in the industry. | He added: "Many are unreliable, less efficient and not able to make it in the industry. |
| "That's a great sadness as we would like to employ more British workers." | "That's a great sadness as we would like to employ more British workers." |
| Minister of State for Immigration Mark Harper closed the scheme because "at a time of unemployment in the UK and the European Union there should be sufficient workers from within those labour markets to meet the needs of the horticultural industry." | Minister of State for Immigration Mark Harper closed the scheme because "at a time of unemployment in the UK and the European Union there should be sufficient workers from within those labour markets to meet the needs of the horticultural industry." |
| He said a study concluded there was "unlikely to be an impact on labour supply in the short term, although this might change in the longer term". | He said a study concluded there was "unlikely to be an impact on labour supply in the short term, although this might change in the longer term". |
| More on this story in Sunday Politics on 6 October at 11:00 BST on BBC One |