The farmworkers arrived in the UK in 2023 as part of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS), which they have argued leaves workers vulnerable to unfair dismissals, exploitation and high levels of debt.
This is based on several reports, articles and testimonies published in recent years, including a 2023 report by the Landworkers’ Alliance which found that many workers were left with thousands of pounds worth of debt as a result of having to pay for their own visa, accommodation and travel, as well as illegal broker-fee costs.
In October 2024, the Labour Government confirmed plans to issue 43,000 seasonal visas to workers from overseas that wish to work in the UK’s horticulture sector, in addition to 2,000 visas for the poultry sector, as part of new phase of SWS.
With that in mind, the farmworkers are gathering in London to call for fairer treatment of people who comes to the UK through the SWS, full accountability for those responsible for exploitation, fair wages, safer working conditions, recognition of their modern slavery victim status, and access to justice and remediation.
One of the workers, the 23-year-old Julia Quecaño Casimiro from Bolivia, spoke at the Oxford Real Farming Conference earlier this month about the intimidation, poor conditions and unfair dismissal she experienced at a berry farm in the UK.
“I took part in the ‘Frontline Voices’ panel at ORFC to give voice to victims of labour exploitation, so that people in the UK hear about our experience and understand our struggle,” Casimiro said.
“I want to invite you to join our demonstration on Friday 24th January 2025 in London, outside the Home Office in Westminster. Please join us in our fight, which hasn’t been easy, but is very important because justice is not seasonal.”
The SWS was first launched in 2019 as a response to labour shortages on UK farms following Brexit. It enables British farmers to recruit workers from abroad for three to six months via licensed scheme operators.
Speaking about the decision to launch a new phase of the SWS, Defra secretary Steve Reed said it represented an example of one of the “immediate actions” Labour had taken to support the UK’s agriculture sector.
