People Being Flown In To Pick Crops.....

[Zacs-Master]

Eastern Europeans to be flown in to pick fruit and veg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52293061

I suppose they have no alternative. Brits will demand wages which would make the produce unsaleable (especially to supermarkets), I assume?

Thoughts?

[fiction-factory]

Should be at or above minimum wage and that must be more than universal credit pays for most people. I'd be happy to do it for a few days a week if the weather is okay but I think there would be issues about getting there each day. Do the Eastern migrants sleep in tents or something nearby?

[Bobbisox1]

I hope they’re tested on landing as this whole thing would be a farce , The Poles in particular are good workers but why not get those who are in receipt of a furlough payment to help out?

[barry1010]

They sleep in huts or dorms on the farms.

[mushroom25]

If I get furloughed (and two of my opposite numbers in competitor companies are already in that position), I'll probably volunteer, just for something to do.

[barry1010]

This is the accommodation at some farms
https://hallhunter.com/fruit-picking-jobs-uk/accommodation-facilities/

Wages:
Minimum wage in the UK is £8.72 (from 1st April 2020) and our workers can earn more depending on their individual role and performance. In 2019, the average weekly salary at Hall Hunter was £414.

Overtime will be paid at a rate of £10.90 after April 2020. You’ll receive holiday pay and will be paid weekly (UK taxes and National Insurance will be deducted before you receive your pay). Your wages will go directly into your UK bank account, which we can help set up.

[royfromaus]

Paddy was the most interesting thing about the drama and should have featured more imo.

[royfromaus]

Note to self...close some windows

[fiction-factory]

When I was a student I used to jump at jobs like this but only over summer. I

[MartinMillar]

They are being tested as reported on the news this morning and being monitored.
My mate is a manager on one of these fruit farm, and they cannot get pickers despite adverts and pleas for help.
What can they do if the locals won’t help out.

[237SJ]

There has been a campaign for volunteers in this country for some time https://www.concordiavolunteers.org.uk/feed-the-nation

[Zacs-Master]

Crikey, some knowledgable people on here. I’m not sure about people volunteering. Wouldn’t that be assisting the farmers who pay minimum wage to make more profit?

[MartinMillar]

They still get paid!

[MartinMillar]

They don’t make a huge profit, farmers are suffering too, there is so much wastage at the moment particularly in the dairy industry with coffee shops etc being shut

[carolegif]

They are tested before they are allowed onto the plane. They have good accommodation too. I expect the volunteers are for packing the fruit/veg. Have you seen how quickly the Eastern European pickets work? Any volunteer would not pick it quickly enough!

[gulliver1]

This could be early signs of" Brexit ", being kicked into the Long Grass.
Things are starting to look up amongst the "Doom and Gloom"

[Zacs-Master]

Why would this be anything to do with Brexit, Gulliver?

[barry1010]

This is from the 'volunteers' needed page:
You will be at least paid minimum wage and many farms pay National Living Wage or more, depending on how much fruit and/or vegetables you harvest, and the role you do on the farm.

So they do get paid, they aren't volunteers in the true sense of the word.

[Bobbisox1]

You may wait awhile for an answer Zaccy :0)

[Zacs-Master]

barry, my volunteer’s comment was aimed at comments on this thread.

[Zacs-Master]

I know, bobbi. Or at least a ‘sensible’ one. The hard of thinking pepper this site like warts on a unicorn.