Key facts
- Most seasonal workers in Britain are from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan ten years after Brexit.
- Agricultural leaders state that many farms would fail without these seasonal workers.
- The UK government has allocated tens of thousands of visas for seasonal workers in horticulture and poultry for 2025 and 2026.
- A significant majority of seasonal worker visa holders in 2024 came from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
- Workers may arrive with substantial debts due to paying their own migration costs.
- Some workers have reported facing threats related to visa cancellation or wage deductions.
Ten years after Brexit, British farms are increasingly reliant on seasonal workers from Central Asian countries, primarily Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, to fill labor shortages. Agricultural leaders warn that without these workers, many farms, especially in the strawberry sector, could face failure, potentially impacting food supply.
The UK's departure from the European Union has significantly altered the availability of agricultural labor, as many European workers can no longer easily enter the country. This has led to a surge in workers from Central Asia, with Kyrgyzstan being the largest single nationality among visa holders.
The government's Seasonal Worker Scheme, extended until at least 2029, provides tens of thousands of visas annually for horticulture and poultry. In 2024, over 91% of survey respondents from this scheme came from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. While many workers report positive experiences and a desire to return, concerns have been raised about the significant debts they may incur by paying their own migration and travel costs. Some workers have also reported facing threats of visa cancellation or wage deductions if they do not meet picking quotas.
Farm groups, like the National Farmers' Union, emphasize the indispensability of these seasonal workers for the sector's functioning. However, organizations such as Focus on Labour Exploitation highlight risks associated with the scheme's rapid expansion, including debt, precarious employment, and dependence on scheme operators for housing and information.