British government announces plan to allow more short-term foreign workers to work in the United Kingdom

24 May 2002

More temporary overseas workers will be able to come to the UK to meet labour demands and boost the economy, under plans announced on 29th May 2002 by the Home Office.

The Government is consulting on expanding two existing foreign workers schemes - the Working Holidaymakers Scheme (WHS) and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) to meet recruitment difficulties and demand for short term and seasonal workers. It also wants to make the WHS more inclusive of all of the Commonwealth.

Publishing the consultation papers, Home Office Minister, Lord Rooker, said:

" The expansion of these schemes will help us meet recruitment gaps and demand for seasonal workers. This is not an alternative to developing the skills and employment opportunities of our existing population, it is a complement to our ongoing work to achieve that.

"Properly managed legal migration also helps us tackle illegal working, which fuels the black economy, often involves dangerous and clandestine entry and leaves workers vulnerable to dangerous conditions, poor pay and exploitation from unscrupulous employers and criminal trafficking gangs.

"It also helps deal with abuse of the asylum system. Our asylum system is to protect people fleeing persecution and torture, but we know that it is too often abused by those who simply want to live and work in the UK. By opening up routes for people to come and work here legally - in ways that help our economy - we can help reduce unfounded asylum claims."

The Working Holidaymakers Scheme:

Under the WHMS, nearly 40,000 Commonwealth young people a year come to the UK for a holiday of up to two years. They are allowed to work for part of their holiday, generally in unskilled or low skilled employment. The scheme brings in a Significant, additional, temporary, flexible workforce and allows Commonwealth young people to experience life in the UK.

At present, the vast majority of working holidaymakers come from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. The figures for other Commonwealth countries - particularly countries in Africa and on the Asian subcontinent - are much lower.

The Government wants to build on the scheme's ability to fill recruitment gaps, and to make it more inclusive by encouraging young people from all Commonwealth countries to take part, while retaining its youth and cultural aspects.

The consultation paper suggests:

• relaxing restrictions on the type and amount of work holidaymakers can do during their stay;
• providing better information about the scheme in all Commonwealth countries;
• allowing people to come to the UK under the WHMS more than once;
• looking at the possibility of advertising 'hard to fill' vacancies to young people in eligible countries; and
• expanding the upper age limit for the scheme from 27 to 30.

In addition the Government is interested in introducing a similar, separate scheme, based on the WHMS, for EU candidate countries in the run up to free movement of labour.

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme:

Casual, seasonal labour at peak times is vital to certain industries, particularly agriculture, where nearly 20,000 overseas workers a year pick and pack fruit and flowers and grade potatoes. Their employment peaks in the harvest months of August and September. In recent years there has been a shortage of seasonal workers resulting in increasing illegal working.

The Government is looking at expanding the SAWS by considering:

• lengthening the eligible agricultural season;
• increasing the quota of workers who can come under the scheme; and
• expanding the scheme to other parts of the agricultural industry.

Further Consultation

The Government is also looking at setting up similar schemes for other industries, such as construction and hospitality, where there is also a need for short-term labour to cover peak times. It is currently discussing the options with industry and the trades unions.

The Government is keen to hear views on the proposed changes to the schemes. On the SAWS, the Government will be meetings key interest groups, including the scheme operators, farmers, growers and trades unions.