Migration advisors are under pressure from the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) to lift restrictions on migrant workers entering the UK from Romania and Bulgaria to protect industry competitiveness.
In a letter obtained by Food Manufacture, the SCDI writes: “SCDI believes there is now an overwhelming argument for the existing restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers to be lifted - fully and without delay.”
These workers were being put off from applying for work in the UK because of the cost of work permits, lengthy processing time for applications and the low acceptance rate, said the SCDI.
There were several other additional reasons for the declining numbers of migrant workers flocking to the UK, according to the SCDI. They included the economic slowdown, the weakening of the pound against the euro, higher living costs and more labour markets opening overseas.
Referring to data from sector skills council Improve on migrant workers in food and drink processing, the organisation’s letter, sent to the Migration Advisory Committee, stated: “Polish workers, in particular, would appear to be returning home or leaving to work in other emerging economies.” Scotland’s bakery sector, in particular, is struggling to find new recruits, it said.
Unless the UK government’s decision not to restrict migrant workers from the A8 accession countries, which have recently joined the EU, was extended to Romania and Bulgaria, the SCDI said: “the UK, especially Scotland, will emerge from the downturn at a competitive disadvantage”