Low pay may cause labour shortage, says union

Food processors must increase the amount they pay agency workers if they are to prevent them from leaving the UK and causing a labour shortage, claimed the union Unite.

“A lot of migrants tend to be taken on by agencies and are often paid less than standard [food] workers - that’s why you get tensions running high between the two groups,” said Unite’s national secretary Chris Kaufman. “If companies don’t put pay structures in place within the next six months it’ll be too late.”

He claimed that the food industry was hugely reliant on migrant workers, but that they were “voting with their feet” and leaving the UK because their pay was so poor.

Dairy UK claimed that workers’ pay should be based on their capabilities, regardless of whether they were agency or permanent staff. “Factories rely on a supply of skilled labour to support their dynamism. Dairy UK believes that workers should be paid in line with their skills and experience,” said a spokesman.

Kaufman added that the responsibility to improve pay standards also fell with retailers. “We realise the pressures that producers are under to cut costs. Supermarkets have a strong message regarding ethics when it comes to animals, but now they need to look at people,” said Kaufman.

“While it would be irresponsible to talk up the crisis which is facing British food production, this is certainly an opportune time to call on everybody concerned with the food and agriculture industry to recognise what is happening.”

Unite has already met with key poultry processors to encourage them to introduce higher pay standards for agency workers and will be talking with other manufacturers and retailers over the coming months.