DEFRA announces new pilot scheme for 2,500 seasonal workers

The Home Secretary and Environment Secretary have announced a nationwide, two year pilot to allow fruit and vegetable farmers to employ seasonal workers from outside the EU. 2,500 seasonal workers will be permitted to come into the UK annually. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme pilot will be run by two operators who will be announced in "due course". They will oversee placement of workers. The pilot is due to start in spring 2019 and will run until 31st December 2020.

Further information is available on GOV.UK and the announcement of the pilot has been welcomed by the Scottish Secretary, David Mundell