UK employers fear worker shortages in new immigration plan

[True Blue Drew]

Source: Associated Press

By JILL LAWLESS
an hour ago

LONDON (AP) — Vegetables rotting in the fields, food going unprocessed, the elderly and disabled left without care.

That’s the alarming picture painted by some British employers about the impact of new U.K. immigration rules set to be introduced in less than a year.

Farms, food factories and care homes said Wednesday that they will face severe labor shortages under the government’s plans to open Britain to skilled and educated immigrants while shutting out those its deems “low-skilled” workers.

The message from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government was blunt: “Employers will need to adjust.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/f3a13e26b8eba124f8fb4afc40969641

---

Is this report suggesting that a country imposing major restrictions on immigration might actually be harming some of its own citizens? Shocking!

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Funny how the Brit's shoot themselves in the foot

every decade or so.

The UK is toast,Mainland Eourpe is done playing their friggin Superiority game.

[sandensea]

2. They seem to think they can just launder their way out of this.

"Worked for Wall Street, wot."

[Wellstone ruled]

5. You just know the Sane

Mainland Europeans look at Britain with the leadership of Johnson and go,we don't need this shit,we already are dealing with the Idiot in the USA.

Appears what ever Manufacturing and Banking left in the UK is about to be relocated to the Mainland.

[sandensea]

7. I don't doubt it.

Within 5 years - after a change in governing parties (Labour?) - the UK will probably ask to be re-admitted.

And never ones to deny noblesse oblige, the Europeans will probably let them back in without too much fuss.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. As per the Guardian News Eourpe,

the Johnson Gang has soured the conversations with their bully tactics. And within a few years,there Economy will need EU help to even survive. Once Johnson and Putin attack the National Health,baby,it is all over and rest assured,this is on their plate.

[sandensea]

12. God forbid - but you're right: Bleachjob Boris might just get his way w/ NHS

Which would be a monumental tragedy.

Every Brit I've ever spoken with if politics came up (it usually does with the British, as they're very attuned), considers the NHS a national treasure.

"The best thing about being British," as one told me, "aside from fish and chips."

[Wuddles440]

3. I'm sure that...

Boris will save them. Plus, he's buds with our "king"! What could possibly go wrong??!!

[irisblue]

4. Heard this on the BBC this morning

Source--https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51550421

Snip--"Who is 'skilled'?
Under the plan, the definition of skilled workers would be expanded to include those educated to A-level/Scottish Highers-equivalent standard, not just graduate level, as is currently the case.

Waiting tables and certain types of farm worker would be removed from the new skilled category, but new additions would include carpentry, plastering and childminding."


Snip--" What about lower-paid sectors?
The government said it would not introduce a route for lower-skilled/lower-paid workers, urging businesses to "adapt and adjust" to the end of free movement between EU countries and the UK."


Snip--" However, the government pointed to a quadrupling of the scheme for seasonal workers in agriculture to 10,000, as well as "youth mobility arrangements", allowing 20,000 young people to come to the UK each year."


Much more at source.

And the last paragraph I posted sure sounds like guest workers for picking the crops.


These proposals sound familiar.

[IronLionZion]

6. They could get yuppies to pay to pick their own produce from the fields

sell them the authentic farm experience and post the photos on instagram

RW racists couldn't care less about the low paying low skilled jobs. They get into violent rages over immigrants stealing skilled jobs in healthcare, IT, finance, and other white collar fields.

[NurseJackie]

8. Crops will rot in the field. Hotel rooms will not be cleaned....

... and just like in the US, as much a people complain about "jobs being taken away" from fellow countrymen, the fellow countrymen wouldn't take those jobs anyway.

[The Mouth]

9. There's NEVER such a thing as a 'worker shortage'

There are places that are too damned cheap to pay people enough. Screw these whiners- pay people what they are worth or go the fuck out of business, here or in England.

[Denzil_DC]

11. Crops have already been rotting. This is just the beginning.

For example, this was in February 2018:

UK crops left to rot after drop in EU farm workers in Britain after Brexit referendum

British farmers have been forced to leave thousands of pounds worth of vegetables to rot in their fields, because of a drop in the number of farm workers from the European Union (EU).

James Orr, whose farm outside St Andrews produces potatoes, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower, said his farm suffered a 15 per cent drop in the number of workers between August and November.

“We simply could not harvest everything, and as a result we left produce in the field to rot,” he told Scotland’s Sunday Herald newspaper.

Enough broccoli to feed 15,000 people for a year was wasted, he added. Mr Orr’s farm supplies more than 1,000 tones of the vegetable and he estimated he lost between £30,000 and £50,000.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-crops-eu-farm-workers-brexit-referendum-rot-manpower-recruitment-numbers-a8194701.html

This was in fall last year:

Brexit fears and fall in sterling causing pickers to stay away, says National Farmers’ Union

Thousands of tonnes of fruit and vegetables are being left to rot in UK fields because of a shortage of pickers and packers in the face of continuing Brexit uncertainty.

Overseas workers, who account for the vast majority of the horticultural labour force, have been unwilling to come to the UK or have returned home early because of fears about their status in the event of a chaotic exit from the EU.

With farmers reporting a shortage of workers of 30% or more last month, some of those with autumn-harvesting crops including berries, apples and beans have been forced to leave their produce in fields and orchards. According to the trade journal The Grocer, some farmers are having to shut down operations six weeks early because they do not have enough workers.

Chris Chinn, a blueberry and bean grower in Herefordshire, said he would have to walk away from half his potential October crop because he only had half the workers he needed.

“The shortage of workers is the biggest threat to our business. Without staff to pick crops like beans, where we don’t have an automation option, then we cannot harvest them and they won’t be available on supermarket shelves.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/11/tonnes-of-crops-left-to-rot-as-farms-struggle-to-recruit-eu-workers

Plenty more examples.

[Lulu KC]

13. They just noticed this?

[DBoon]

14. Who will take the coal from the mine?

Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take a leaf and grow it to a tree?
Don't look now, it ain't you or me

Who will work the field with his hands?
Who will put his back to the plough?
Who'll take the mountain and give it to the sea?
Don't look now, it ain't you or me

Don't look now, someone's done your starvin'
Don't look now, someone's done your prayin' too

Who will make the shoes for your feet?
Who will make the clothes that you wear?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't look now, it ain't you or me

-- Creedence Clearwater Revival