You know the drill

[SmallTown]

You do realise this is problem for the vast majority of the farming sector right? Should they all just go out of business?

You're advocating letting farms go bust because of something that happened completely out of their control. They can't attract the UK workforce due to low pay and cannot increase pay due to market forces on their margins.

The wage package was acceptable for the EU workers that came over here as accommodation/services were provided along with their hourly rate, especially as it is often a very good wage for when they returned home.

There are many jobs that rely on on these farms, ones that pay UK workers well, that will also go. More acceptable collateral damage?

All I keep hearing is "Buy British" which if nothing changes will be followed by "I'm not paying that!".

These farms will require substantial subsidises to operate in the short to medium term to attract workers. Something this government will not do in any meaningful way. This is the reality being exposed.

At least we could just pave them over for housing right?

I think I have made a mistake. Posting this has allowed him to concentrate on the one single failing business. This we he can ignore all the other economic damage being done and still pretend to have the moral high ground. In isolation he'd be correct. On top of all the other horror stories of brexit it exposes his selfish nature.

 

[tripleheader]

The growers will have to step up, pay more for U.K workers until this problem is addressed. Nobody should be surprised that yet another industry is having problems due to Brexit.

 

[SuperStu]

Should they all just go out of business?

You're advocating letting farms go bust because of something that happened completely out of their control.

If I had things my way then any vital industries (like agriculture) would be state ran and wouldn't rely on the profit motive. Since most voters (like ST) don't agree and want competitive capitalism I'm advocating businesses paying wages that are suitable to attract staff. If companies can't afford to do that then I accept they'll have to fold and apparently the market will correct itself so that everything works itself out. If that last part doesn't happen then tory voters have some explaining to do.

 

[SuperStu]

I think I have made a mistake. Posting this has allowed him to concentrate on the one single failing business. This we he can ignore all the other economic damage being done and still pretend to have the moral high ground. In isolation he'd be correct. On top of all the other horror stories of brexit it exposes his selfish nature.

It's tragic. I hope the Taylor's quickly find another way to extract wealth from poor foreigners.

Look everyone I'm doing some selflessness.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

So we expected East European’s to sit around and wait for a daffodil to pop up.

 

[bear66]

90% of the world's daffodil production is in the UK . . . or it was till this year.

 

[Chris_Boro]

If I had things my way then any vital industries (like agriculture) would be state ran and wouldn't rely on the profit motive. Since most voters (like ST) don't agree and want competitive capitalism I'm advocating businesses paying wages that are suitable to attract staff. If companies can't afford to do that then I accept they'll have to fold and apparently the market will correct itself so that everything works itself out. If that last part doesn't happen then tory voters have some explaining to do.

The problems in attracting UK workers won't go away via nationalisation. It would require huge spend increase in wages that the market will not cover meaning the goods will simply not be viable to produce in this country and the cost of importing will be more attractive to buyers.

The tax payer cannot simply produce at a loss unless it owns the entire supply chain.

The only viable solution to this is to allow visa free workers to come here from the EU. As was the case before Brexit.

 

[SmallTown]

90% of the world's daffodil production is in the UK . . . or it was till this year.

I didn't realise we were the world leaders in daffodil production. Emphasis on the were

 

[SmallTown]

The problems in attracting UK workers won't go away via nationalisation. It would require huge spend increase in wages that the market will not cover meaning the goods will simply not be viable to produce in this country and the cost of importing will be more attractive to buyers.

The tax payer cannot simply produce at a loss unless it owns the entire supply chain.

The only viable solution to this is to allow visa free workers to come here from the EU. As was the case before Brexit.

I would go a step further and say we should sign up for schengen. But yes VISA free travel would allow us to maintain businesses like this.

 

[Colin Warnek]

Once again the supporters of mass unregulated and unfettered immigration from EU countries (regardless of economy size, GDP) show what the game is really about. Cheap labour and nothing else. If you're too tight to pay your workers a living wage, tough.
Similar to middle class madams of Clapham and Islington etc complaining about the shortage of cheap nannies and cleaners whilst sitting in 1m+ townhouses.

 

[asredastheycome]

Its not as if these Daffs have just sprung up over night. Why have they waited until now to say they have no staff surely they have had time to recruit or is it because the pay is so low that they cant get people.

Fields of Daffs will make a nice scenic view for those out for an isolated drive.

 

[FatCat]

Something I’m not clued up on but my logical brain is saying why do we rely on cheap foreign Labour, we have minimum wage laws (I thought) so why can’t Uk workers take these jobs? I’m sure it’s more complex than that but forgive my ignorance?

 

[SmallTown]

Something I’m not clued up on but my logical brain is saying why do we rely on cheap foreign Labour, we have minimum wage laws (I thought) so why can’t Uk workers take these jobs? I’m sure it’s more complex than that but forgive my ignorance?

That's a good question. I would ask the same. The problem is they aren't.

Still apparently we should celebrate this particular business going to the wall. Somehow. Celebrating failure. That must be a brexit thing.

 

[NYboro]

Something I’m not clued up on but my logical brain is saying why do we rely on cheap foreign Labour, we have minimum wage laws (I thought) so why can’t Uk workers take these jobs? I’m sure it’s more complex than that but forgive my ignorance?

It is way more complex. A while ago I read an article about one of these farms that attempted to recruit British labour. They never managed to fill the quota of what they wanted and most left because they did not want to live on premises and work the long hard hours, despite reasonable wages.....

 

[SuperStu]

most left because they did not want to live on premises and work the long hard hours, despite reasonable wages.....

NYBoro do you think non-British people like living in cramped sh*t converted sheds and working long hard hours? Or is the key difference there that they don't have the means/local knowledge to be able to walk away?

why do we rely on cheap foreign Labour

You've answered it yourself. It's cheap. Foreign labour is easier for farmers to exploit. If I remember correctly agriculture is the industry most likely to have staff being paid below the minimum wage. The owners know they can get away with it, especially if the staff have little language/skills/network to get away.

 

[Chris_Boro]

NYBoro do you think non-British people like living in cramped sh*t converted sheds and working long hard hours? Or is the key difference there that they don't have the means/local knowledge to be able to walk away?



You've answered it yourself. It's cheap. Foreign labour is easier for farmers to exploit. If I remember correctly agriculture is the industry most likely to have staff being paid below the minimum wage. The owners know they can get away with it, especially if the staff have little language/skills/network to get away.

The teams that regularly provided seasonal work to UK farms are for the most part very experienced farmers/pickers that travel across Europe bringing skill sets that the UK workforce does not have. It's their livelyhood and they are not exploited as you frame it. No different to UK lads/lasses who are brought into foreign companies where they have an inexperienced workforce.

The quality of accommodation will vary, some will be poor with most adequate for seasonal use. This would be no different for UK employees, they either pay for accommodation themselves, commute or live in provided housing as part of the pay package.

You're attempting to bring a very complex issue created by Brexit down to a single reason, wages. As I've said, simply paying more will not fill the huge gap caused due to the lack of foreign experienced, willing labour that's able to hit the ground running.

The entire farming sector has had its margins squeezed for decades. Now they need huge financial support to remain viable or go bust.