皇家华人

Employer Pays Principle review raises serious concerns for UK horticulture, warns NFU

08 July 2025

NFU horticulture and potatoes board chair Martin Emmett on his farm in West Sussex

Photograph: Jason Alden / NFU

A review into the EPP (Employer Pays Principle) has raised concerns about the commercial challenges if growers are required to cover all costs associated with seasonal workers under the Seasonal Worker Scheme, the NFU has warned.

The study, jointly commissioned by Defra and the Seasonal Worker Taskforce1, found that:

  • Any additional costs that cannot be passed up the supply chain will put significant financial pressure on growers.
  • Many growers operate on profit margins as low as 2%, and implementing EPP could force some out of business.
  • While growers may be able to pass on some extra costs, they would still face serious losses, potential closures, job cuts and reduced production.

NFU horticulture and potatoes board chair Martin Emmett said: 鈥淪easonal workers play a vital role in getting the nation鈥檚 favourite fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers onto supermarket shelves and without them the sector simply wouldn鈥檛 function.聽

鈥淭his review confirms what many growers have feared, that expecting employers to cover all extra costs could seriously damage UK horticulture. Most businesses already run on very tight margins, so this would push some over the edge. That is at odds with the government鈥檚 Food Strategy ambition to provide more easily accessible healthy food for the nation.

鈥淭here are some gaps in the study. For instance, it didn鈥檛 look into the prevalence or scale of any possible worker debt. This is an important issue that requires further thought to determine the best way to address it while also safeguarding the future of UK horticulture and food security.

鈥淓mployers care deeply about worker welfare and are already working closely across the supply chain to improve experiences. This review is part of that ongoing effort, and we will work with the Taskforce to carefully consider the findings of the review and to agree next steps without putting the future of British farming and our food supply at risk.鈥�

More information

  1. The Seasonal Worker Taskforce is made up of a range of stakeholders in the industry including: Seasonal Worker Scheme operators, retailers, growers, trade associations and distributors.
  • The Taskforce works collaboratively to help safeguard and ensure access to workers鈥� rights in the UK, this year it has:
    • Delivered a programme of grower roadshows to bring the latest information on the Seasonal Worker Scheme and best practice to the attention of UK growers.
    • Worked with the International Office for Migration to raise awareness of workers in Central Asian source countries of working rights in the UK.
    • Delivered ACAS hosted webinars for employers intended to improve workplace grievance mechanisms and the experience of seasonal workers in UK horticulture.
  • Defra鈥檚 latest Seasonal Worker Survey recorded high overall levels of worker satisfaction with 91% of respondents reporting a positive experience working in the UK and with 95% expressing a desire to return to the UK again through the Seasonal Worker visa route.