Deputy Colin Clark, speaking during a meeting with the Prime Minister, called on the government to expand the pilot scheme launched earlier this year to attract workers from countries outside the European Union.
Under the current scheme, over 2,500 workers from non-EU countries will be granted work visas from the UK Department of the Interior over the next two years.
Deputy Clark told the Prime Minister: “To ensure that the British needs for strawberries and Scotch raspberries are met, encourage the Home Office to expand the seasonal farm workers system from 2,500 to 10,000 this year and open it to 30-40,000 workers next year.”
Cabinet Secretary David Lidington, who replaced Teresa May at the meeting, replied: “The pilot project has never been designed to fully meet the workforce needs in the horticultural sector.
Obviously, we will need to evaluate what is happening with this pilot scheme in practice, but I know that the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for the Environment will be very attentive to the northeast of Scotland. ”
According to the current scheme, British farmers will have to pay 700 to 1000 pounds to participate in a pilot project. Stephanie Maurel, executive director of Concordia, a contract with the Home Office for the recruitment of labor, told the Scottish Affairs Committee that farmers would be charged £ 700 for registration and then between £ 180 and £ 220. for each employee.
