West Sussex Growers Association is calling for 70,000 seasonal workers , inclusive of decorative plant growers , and the minimum salary to set aside worker into the UK to be quash from £ 25,600 to £ 20,000 . WSGA ’s John Hall said : “ Most WSGA horticultural business have invested intemperately in automated organisation and are trialling robots and robotic organisation with universities and engineering development company ; however , effective robotic system are still a long direction off .
“ In the meantime , admittance to labor remains the number one priority . It is essential that the Government returns to a position where , with minimal rules and regulation , UK agrarian and horticultural businesses can employ non - UK citizen to fill seasonal and non - seasonal post .
“ Since the advent of Brexit , leading to restrictions with entree to actor from the EU , problems with proletariat shortages have become much bad . WSGA surveys carry out on a regular basis throughout the summer show an average weekly shortfall of between 10 % to 12.5 % of the required workforce .
“ WSGA phallus have engaged with Job Centre Plus representatives from Bognor Regis and Chichester to further explore ways and means of attracting more business seekers into the local Horticultural Industry . This has had very limited winner . We understand that local unemployment remains relatively crushed . Horticultural businesses also advertise incessantly in an attempt to draw local masses to take up employment with them ; but again , with little success .
“ WSGA and the National Farmers ’ Union ( NFU ) proceed to conjure Government to increase the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme ( SAWS ) telephone number from the current 30,000 to 70,000 ; so far without success . Competition for the very limited numbers of actor amongst other sectors has step up ; with some stage business offering magnanimous sign language on fee and other incentives to recruit staff .
“ A point - based Skilled Worker road was introduce on 7 May 2025 as part of the new immigration system of rules . This route will let in an component of tradeable points , where any business on the Shortage Occupation List ( SOL ) will be allocated 20 tradeable points ; this in effect reduces the relevant remuneration thresholds by 20 % . However , the minimal salary for “ starter ” side should be reduce from £ 25,600 to £ 20,000 to encounter the contiguous pauperization of the agriculture , horticulture , and food and drink industries .
“ Throughout 2021 , most horticultural business in West Sussex have struggled to enter sufficient numbers of worker to carry out full metre and seasonal operations . It should be stressed that this touch on full time as well as seasonal positions , and also all skill levels include functional picking and packing material jobs , team leader and supervisor , drivers , machine operator , and technician .
Read the accomplished clause atwww.fargro.co.uk .
