Fruit and veg to run out if farms don't get pickers

[SudokuQueen]

www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/28/fruit-and-veg-will-run-out-unless-britain-charters-planes-to-fly-in-farm-workers-from-eastern-europe

Why do we actually need to fly people in from other countries when there are a ton of people not working now due to corona killing off their jobs?

Unemployment has gone up by tens of thousands in a week. Just a week. It will only increase.

Food pickers are keyworkers so can go out to do this. Why can't we just get the new unemployed to do this? Yeah it might not be the amount of money you were getting before, but I bet its better than benefits.

Wouldn't bother me if they got the 80% pay from their previous job and the pay from the picking job as well. It's an incentive to do it then, it's a decent top up on their current pay. The government should make that a clause, if you get a job in one of these key working roles, whether thats picking fruit, working in a supermarket, cleaning hospitals etc you keep your 80% pay and the extra pay you get. Wouldn't bother me either but I think if someone is getting up to £2,500 per month it is reasonable to expect them to do something, lots of roles so doesn't have to be fruit picking. If they don't want to do it fair enough but then they shouldn't get the money.

Also agree that it should be offered to people on JSA and if they don’t take it stop their money. But yes perhaps keep half or even all the benefits whilst doing the work and getting paid on top.

I see the “ CV will make us a kinder society” theory has failed already.

Tesco is apparently rationing fruit (weirdly and inequitably) already.

The majority of students don’t have children

So you have loved ones on the front line? That's nice. Most of us have, too, or essential workers. But there's nothing stopping you yourself from volunteering to pick fruit and veg if it's such a great idea for others.

Least I would be doing more than you. You just like to complain.

What do you suggest Arch ?

The OP has already said 'As I've said, I'm a keyworker. I can't leave my job'.

Think the government should announce a short-term 'amnesty' that anything paid by a fresh food producer officially doesn't exist for tax/benefits purposes, then anyone that's in the right area and feels like they're happy to do the job/take the risk is incentivised to apply for that work without anyone having to spend time organising workers from other countries.

I wouldn't offer it to furloughed workers in addition to their 80% if there are currently unemployed, or about to be unemployed, workers who are keen to do it - the more people employed (or fewer unemployed) the better for everyone (am I repeating myself? probably).

I think there may be two uses of the term 'volunteering' on this thread - yes I agree that people may volunteer to do it as a normal paid job; but I don't see any particular reason why it should have to be done by unpaid volunteers, when there are people looking for work. No reason why some ex hospitality and catering workers and students (those who don't mind being away from home) won't be both interested and capable.

Well, for starters, that those who think others should be the ones to do the picking to join in doing it themselves, you know, walk the walk, Purple. Otherwise it's just a lot of hot air.

Least I would be doing more than you. You just like to complain. smile

Knock yourself out then . Go for it, volunteer! I've got no complaints at all but by all means, carry on extrapolating.

Anything would be better than thousands of more deaths from this awful virus. You devise a plan to keep them as safe as those working from home and I will fully support it. UK can't even look after front line NHS.

Of course, Errol, it's always someone else's remit with these suggestions, they never apply to oneself. Amusing, really.

We will need to recruit and employ a land army somehow. Not just because of the loss of imported labour. Some of the countries we import from will likely enact temporary laws stopping exports.

Of course, Errol, it's always someone else's remit with these suggestions, they never apply to oneself. Amusing, really.

I've applied it to myself and my student DD.

I will be “ feeding the nation “ as I live on a farm . What are you doing Arch ?
If the supermarkets are empty I can still eat . Can you ?

Surely there is not much fruit picking going on in the UK in March.

Other countries will stop exporting as they may need the supplies for themselves . People have incredibly short memories .

What a god awful turn this thread has taken. Tired old tropes about the idle poor and feckless youth. Stop benefits if you can't force them out into the fields etc. And they're always "other" and at a distance from you, aren't they?

It's already been said, this is hard, physical labour. And the authorities don't have a great track record at ascertaining who is even in good enough health to work. So your genius policy would undoubtedly lead to (more) people starving, isolated in their homes.

Greedy farmers have contributed to this - shit pay for the work with poor accommodation (think loads of bunk beds in old portacabins) which the farmer deducts about £55 a week for. The only people willing to be treated like shit and endure such conditions were EE workers where the money earned in the season went a long way back home.

Purple - obviously there are genuine issues around how to do the logistics, and to ensure it's done safely. As you're someone who is 'walking the walk' (for which, thanks!) do you have any ideas on this!

We should have been nicer to the Roma who did these jobs then.
Better still should have been nicer to the English Romany, who would have done these jobs.
But instead Pritti Racist Patel has changed the law so we can't.
Chickens come home to roost, you'll have to grow your own, volunteer yourselves, or go without.

If the supermarkets are empty I can still eat . Can you ?

Yes, I can in fact, Purple.

Good on you, Errol! Walking the walk instead of providing helpful suggestions on how other groups of people can sort it out. That's far more admirable.

CV will make us a nation of “every man for himself “if it continues for months on end . Human nature is human nature .