A REPORT unveiled this week has suggested that the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme is increasing the risk of human trafficking for forced labour in the UK agricultural sector.

The Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) report investigated the experience of workers in Scotland taking part in the UK Government’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers pilot (SWP) – launched in 2019, to help alleviate labour shortages within edible horticulture.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, FLEX gathered responses from 146 agricultural workers, and has now outlined its findings, alongside recommendations that can be taken by the UK and Scottish Governments to mitigate the risks of human trafficking for forced labour on the SWP and to protect current and future workers.

The report flagged up issues surrounding zero-hour contracts, false information on the nature of work, instances of pressure to sign contracts and revealed that 62% of workers incurred debts to travel to the UK to work – which included the £244 travel visa.

Many workers (62%) reported making unsuccessful attempts to transfer to alternative employment citing their employers’ refusal to let them leave and 66% reported receiving threats of loss of work, including threats of deportation from their employer (17%).

Seasonal workers claimed they were made to feel like 'slaves' and reported unsafe housing in caravan accommodation, identifying issues with damp, mould growth and overcrowding. One respondent said: “Our caravan is really cold and wet. I have to put a hat on when I sleep. Our caravan is full of mould, the walls are mouldy, our mattress is mouldy. We sleep on mould.”

Commenting on the FLEX report, NFU Scotland's horticulture working group chair, Iain Brown, said: “The FLEX report has highlighted many flaws in the UK-wide scheme, particularly the debt burden placed on migrant workers, and poor or false information that has sadly resulted in some unsuitable and uninformed candidates coming to Scotland to work. This difficult situation has resulted in people feeling trapped in some cases. The Covid pandemic had a devastating impact last year, and the necessary lockdown requirements of quarantine and isolation will have doubtless made it more difficult for migrant workers.

“NFUS wants lessons to be learned and action to be taken following this report,” he continued. “We want to see a permanent scheme that gives farm businesses the ability to recruit directly, which worked so well in the past. If farm businesses can go back to directly engaging with the recruitment process, then this will benefit workers and businesses alike.”

The Scottish government said the report’s findings were ‘concerning’ and highlighted the need for an ‘urgent, comprehensive and effective response’.

“With the powers that we have, the Scottish Government is committed to doing all it can to address the relevant recommendations from the research to ensure that Scotland continues to be a desirable destination for those workers who play a vital role in the continued success and growth of horticulture, and other rural industries,” said Rural Affairs minister Ben MacPherson.

Labour provider Concordia – which recruits SAWS workers from places such as Russia and Ukraine – criticised the report for not ‘representing the majority of workers on UK farms'.

Chief executive Simon Bowyer said the charity “audits all farms and only works with ones which uphold our ethical standards, allows workers to transfer to a different farm wherever possible and through our network of overseas agents. All workers are informed of their rights and the responsibilities when securing work on a UK farm, as well as their contractual obligations.”