Farmers who employ seasonal or permanent workers from the EU have been reminded their staff need to apply to the UK Government’s settled status scheme by the end of June 2021 if they want to work here in future.
The UK’s agricultural industry relies heavily on staff from EU countries and the farmers’ union has emphasised the importance of preparing for recruitment post-Brexit.
The government’s scheme gives “settled status” to EU nationals who have already been in the country for five years or more; and “pre-settled status” to EU nationals who have been in the country for under five years.
The pre-settled status category can be accessed by any seasonal worker in the country this year who wishes to return in future years.
NFU Scotland (NFUS) president Andrew McCornick encouraged farmers to remind their permanent or seasonal workers of the need to apply for the scheme to ensure they can work in the UK in future.
“Importantly, seasonal staff from the EU are entitled to apply for pre-settled status as there is no threshold for time spent living and working in the UK in order to make an application,” he said. “This will be vital for any existing seasonal workers who wish to return to work in Scotland or the UK in the next five years.”
Mr McCornick also voiced his concerns about the UK Government’s new points-based system for immigration which he said would not provide the necessary flexibility to ensure that jobs in Scottish agriculture or ancillary industries would be filled beyond 2021.
He added: “NFUS encourages all employers of EU nationals, if they have not already, to engage with staff about their plans beyond January 1.”
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
