The Northern Ireland mushroom industry will cease to exist if migration rules are not relaxed, an industry body has warned, calling on mushroom pickers to be added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
“We are currently sitting with a vacancy rate of 15.8 per cent, which ultimately drives costs up and means we are not able to be as competitive as growers in other regions.
“Our farms are resilient but the cumulative impact of the lack of access to labour, rising business costs as well as lack of competitive playing field with our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland means that farmers are increasingly faced with the prospect of closure or moving operations to the south,” BBC quoted a statement from Chair of NIMGA Frank Donnelly as saying.
NIMGA represents eight mushroom farms in Northern Ireland, which are all based in the border region.
Mushroom farms have been heavily dependent on workers from eastern and central Europe. Post Brexit, it is now very difficult for people from the EU to migrate to the UK to take up low-paid work.
A government spokesperson said it works closely with the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to ensure its points-based system delivers for the UK.
It added it aims to work “in the best interests of the economy by prioritising the skills and talent we need and encouraging long-term investment in the domestic workforce. The MAC is reviewing the Shortage Occupation List to ensure it reflects the current labour market and we will consider any recommendations it makes,” the spokesperson said.
Inclusion on the SOL means that a job can pay less than usually required under UK migration rules. A government spokesperson said the SOL is currently under review.
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