There was a 72% increase in demand from seasonal workers for support this year, according to new data from the Worker Support Centre.
The charity launched its annual report today, which revealed it had supported 697 people in 2024 in relation to seasonal agricultural work.
The report shared the priorities of workers on the Seasonal Worker visa for improved standards in the agricultural sector. Key risks were identified as restriction of workers’ movement, non-payment of wages, dismissal without process, health and safety hazards, unsafe housing, and poor treatment.
“We have seen a huge increase in workers asking for help because workers know they can trust us to listen to them, to provide support, and meet their needs,” said Iryna Pakhil, WSC outreach caseworker.
Of those 697 people, 357 workers contacted the organisation about switching their place of employment with 173 either not knowing how to request a transfer or had received no response when trying to transfer. A further 152 workers had been refused a transfer.
The report showed that 99 workers raised issues related to pay, with 54 workers reporting non-payment for work.
There were 47 workers who raised concerns around health and safety. Ten reported injuries, including two that were life-altering.
Housing was also a key issue and 113 workers raised issues concerned with this. WSC said it had identified a significant gap in oversight of seasonal worker accommodation in 2024 and has called for urgent standards.
“We need the UK government to listen to workers, and the cases we’ve seen this year, as they review the Seasonal Worker visa for the risks of exploitation it presents,” said executive director Caroline Robinson.
“We know that visas which tie workers to an employer or labour provider create real risks for workers and our latest data reinforces this,” Robinson added. “The government’s new Fair Work Agency should be designed to directly address the specific risks of visas such as the SWV.”
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