Today, the Worker Support Centre (WSC) launches our Annual Report of findings from support to 697 people in relation to seasonal agricultural work in 2024. It shows a 72% increase in demand for our service from the previous year.
It also shares seasonal migrant workers’ own priorities for improved standards in the agricultural sector. This is the first time, in the nearly 80 years of seasonal migrant work in agriculture, that workers have shared their own priorities for change.
Our data shows workers facing serious issues spanning: restriction of movement; non-payment of wages; dismissals without process; health and safety risks; unsafe housing; and poor treatment.
An increased rate of resolution – in over two thirds of cases – shows that our model is working to promote decent work and prevent exploitation.
About the Worker Support Centre
WSC prevents labour exploitation in high-risk labour sectors. We directly support and advocate for isolated and marginalised workers in Scotland.
We are an independent, worker-centred charity with staff- and board-level representation of people with lived experience of the issues faced by those on whose behalf we work.
Key findings from the report
The report shares information from 697 people and sets out standards developed during our Worker Power discussions with 58 workers. Workers have shared the good and the bad, informing what they want to see change.
The most common issue raised – by 357 workers – relates to restrictions on movement, namely transferring from one farm to another. Under the SWV workers can only move workplace if they receive a “transfer” from their visa sponsor. 117 workers did not know how to request a transfer, 152 had been refused, 56 had tried to request one but had received no response.
Another big issue for workers was housing. 113 workers raised issues, most – 100 – related to poor living conditions. WSC has identified a significant gap in oversight of worker housing in 2024 and called for urgent standards.
Non-payment of wages was also been raised, 99 workers made contact related to pay and 54 workers reported non-payment for work.
On health and safety, 47 workers reported concerns, including lack of hand washing facilities or toilets by fields, 10 workers reported injuries, including 2 that were life altering.
What does the report tell us?
This data shows an urgent need for reform of the Seasonal Worker visa (SWV) in agriculture to better protect workers.
The new UK Government is about to respond to the Migration Advisory Committee’s enquiry into the SWV and WSC urges them to listen to workers in this response.
We would like to see the UK government review the SWV for the risks of exploitation it presents, particularly the impact of highly restricted movement.
The Government plans to set up a new Fair Work Agency to enforce workplace standards it should take note of this data and ensure it roots out non-payment of wages.
In 2025, the WSC will continue its support for workers to develop standards for the sector and to prevent exploitation in the future.