KNOWLEDGE

Tattie Picking and Hyowin' Neeps: How COVID-19 may help towards the shortage of seasonal workers in the horticultural sector

Morton Fraser Legal Director Gail Watt
Author
Gail Watt
Legal Director
PUBLISHED:
14 April 2020
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category:
Blog

I spent many a happy school holiday outside, earning some extra pocket money picking soft fruit at the fruit farm in Fochabers in the summer.

Tattie picking and hyowin neeps at the farm up the road in the autumn was slightly less fun – not going to lie – The Moray Firth Coast in October can be a cruel cold mistress indeed.   That was a long time ago now, and as horticulture has evolved, so has the need for proper seasonal staff (and the abolition of child labour).

As I’m sure you are aware, the importance of the horticultural industry in Scotland is vital, not just to the UK economy as a whole, but also to the security of food supply.  The availability of those proper seasonal workers who come and harvest the produce is integral to that. 

The soft fruit and vegetable growers of Scotland have been rightfully concerned about the impact of the end of free movement of workers within the E.U. on their ability to source the estimated 10,000 seasonal workers required to harvest their produce. 

(Remember when all we had to worry about was Brexit? Simpler times)

Now, we have the added complication of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which adds a further layer of turmoil to an already uncertain situation, and borders being shut down almost completely. Add in the number of people who have been furloughed from their jobs as a result of the virus, and it’s all a bit of a gloomy picture.

However, HMRC have confirmed that individuals who have been furloughed due to COVID-19 are able to take up alternative employment on a temporary basis during the period of their furlough - if that is contractually permitted by their employer.

Last month the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) launched an online employment matching service (https://www.nfus.org.uk/coronavirus/employment-opportunities-on-farms.aspx) whereby any individual who may be out of work or on a temporary furlough period can apply to be matched with work in the countryside. They have reported unprecedented numbers of visitors to their web page and have already successfully matched employees and employers.

Whether or not it will provide the numbers of workers required by the horticultural sector remains to be seen, but it is a service which should be applauded in these uncertain times.

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