Rural Payments and Services

Commenting on the FLEX report, Rural Affairs Minister Ben Macpherson said:

“The findings of this report are concerning and highlight the need for an urgent, comprehensive and effective response. The research also shows that many people who come to Scotland as seasonal workers have a positive experience. We know that some workers return year after year, and we want to build on best practice to ensure everyone coming to Scotland has a positive experience.

“In order to help seasonal agricultural workers with any issues they may have during their time in Scotland, we have provided RSABI with funding to allow them to run a pilot to extend the scope of their current helpline. This will include a translator service which will be available out of hours when workers are most likely to call for help. The first stage of translator service delivery for the pilot would start on 22 March.

“The independent research demonstrates that Scotland currently has a high dependency on migrant workers to fill roles in agriculture, particularly in the horticultural sector.

“With the powers that we have, the Scottish Government is committed to doing all it can to address the relevant recommendations from the research to ensure that Scotland continues to be a desirable destination for those workers who play a vital role in the continued success and growth of horticulture, and other rural industries.

“The Scottish Government will, of course, seek to work together with the UK Government on areas where devolved and reserved issues intersect.

“However, many of the issues in the report relate to failures in the design and delivery of the UK Government’s temporary immigration scheme - and we urge the UK Government to fully engage with the findings.

“The report indicates that the Seasonal Workers Pilot is not functioning as it should for employers or seasonal workers and - in addition to the considerable cost and bureaucracy involved in participating in the scheme - the UK Government must make necessary improvements in order for the scheme to meet the needs of the sector.

“I, along with the Migration Minister Ms Gilruth, have written to the UK Government’s Immigration Minister Kevin Foster, calling on the UK Government to implement the recommendations urgently, and engage regularly and meaningfully with the Scottish Government, Focus on Labour Exploitation and the Scottish agriculture sector going forward.”