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Original poster

Fruit picking Jobs

480 replies

billysboy · 18/04/2020 09:37

With so many Fruit Picking Jobs available aibu to think that a few of the people already in this country would want to take them up

It feels as if we are paying 1m to stay at home rather than take up this work
Its hard work no doubt but also pays £10-15 an hour is it beneath too many people?

OP posts:
midsomermurderess · 19/04/2020 18:34

Hey, Purple/Pretty, could you two just eff off and bicker somewhere else?

Chillicheese123 · 19/04/2020 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ThePrettyOneX · 19/04/2020 18:36

I never experienced any bad feelings against me in RL. The opposite really - Ive been praised for it so not too sure what you have in mind Chilli

HeIenaDove · 19/04/2020 18:40

i dont think she is who she says she is. There is an agenda there

Dont rise to it.

IcedPurple · 19/04/2020 18:43

It is all quite the opposite. People live in UK only temporary and never see this country as their actual long term home.

You're clearly just trolling now, aren't you?

Britain has very high rates of net migration. Lots of people want to live there. Latvia has negative net migration - one of the lowest in Europe - because almost no foreigners want to live there, and many Latvians can't wait for the chance to get out, very often to Britain. When's the last time you heard someone say 'Gee, if only I could relocate to Latvia?'

Maybe when your country offers its citizens a chance to live a decent life without having to milk another country's benefits system, then you get to gloat. But Latvia has a long way to go before that's going to be possible.

Devlesko · 19/04/2020 19:10

What's wrong with immigrants sending money home, they've earned it?
It pays for services to be installed, and yes they are mainly hill dwellers.
Roma prefer hills, in any country.
The British Romany/gypsy (both acceptable terms) would still be doing this work now if they could. But like the rest of society they have moved with the times and would want the same wage as they get elsewhere and the farmers won't pay it.

Louiselouie0890 · 19/04/2020 19:16

You can get a second job and get paid furlough?

Chillicheese123 · 19/04/2020 19:18

@Devlesko absolutely nothing wrong with sending money you’ve earned home

Sending Money you’re fraudulently claiming as benefits is wrong

Leedsfan247 · 19/04/2020 19:25

It’s not quite as simple as it may seem I live in a rural area with plenty of fruit growing. Contrary to popular belief it’s a skilled job that needs practice otherwise you can’t keep up with machines tractors etc. It’s often piece work and if you can’t pick enough it’s not worth paying even the minimum wage. Rural locations are difficult to get to often 4.30 or 6.30 am there’s no public transport if you can afford to run a car .....
Often these jobs need you to live on site in static caravans for up to 6 weeks. Everyone needs to be taken to the fields at the same time they can’t wait for people coming from different locations.
Basically it’s easy for The Daily Mail to point the finger but it’s not quite as simple as folk think - trust me.

OJZJ · 19/04/2020 19:32

From what i read It pays 400 a week so nearly 21k a year, which is more than I was getting in a finance based manegerial position a few years ago and a damn site more than the minimum wage as far as I know, it also pays more than brickies, labourers etc
If I worked as a zero hour contract like a lots of supermarket sales assistants who are currently putting their lives at risk atm or somewhere similar, I would jump at a chance to do this. I know it can be back breaking work, but if you are young and fit why wouldn't you?

Rachel709 · 19/04/2020 19:37

Most farmers don't want British workers. They want experienced pickers that live on site. Also the shifts start early and finish very late.

Floofboopsnootandbork · 19/04/2020 19:37

if your contract would usually allow you to pick up a 2nd job then you are still allowed to while furloughed

My contract would usually allow me to take a second job along as it’s outside of the hours I work (obviously) and the same rules apply now. If I can find a job between 8pm and 8am then I’m free to do as I wish but this job isn’t between these hours!

Devlesko · 19/04/2020 19:38

Chilli

Who said anything about claiming fraudulently though.
My Roma cousins (we consider anyone born with Roma DNA to be family) work throughout the UK, some on farms, some in warehousing, hospitality, etc. They also get benefits for working on a low income, the same as we do.
Then they send it home, it builds houses, provides services.

BunsyGirl · 19/04/2020 19:39

The Government rules on furlough do allow you to take on a second job BUT it depends on what the terms of the furlough are with your employer. My employer is making up my salary so it is 80% of what I would usually earn (which is more than the Government cap of £2500). A condition of this is that I don’t work elsewhere - although I am allowed to do voluntary work and this is encouraged by my employer. Given that I am in the vulnerable category it is a moot point anyway.

Carrotcakefiend · 19/04/2020 19:40

My niece has just got a job fruit picking, and she's British. Been unemployed since Jan when her company let her go. She's found getting another job hard because of everything that's happened. I just hope they manage to keep social distancing on the farm...

wanttoruntothemoon · 19/04/2020 19:43

The truth is British are bloody lazy and think working on a farm is beneath them.
All their lives they used other nations to do their dirty work.
Working on a farm is not as appreciated as volunteering for the NHS. You are not on that high pedestal and people don't want to do it.
I know I'll be told I'm unreasonable but I don't care. This the truth and the truth hurts :-)
Peace ✌️

BigBlueEyes19 · 19/04/2020 19:46

m.youtube.com/watch?v=bqo-7rtGwOU this was an interestin piece to watch and unfortunately very much reflects on the real live in Great Britain. Or shall we say Lazy Britain jajaja

wanttoruntothemoon · 19/04/2020 19:48

@Leedsfan247 really? Skilled work? Haha this shows you've never worked on a farm.
Do you really think that those 180 Romanians are skilled farmers?
If they can learn why can't the British learn as well?
All laziness if you ask me ✌️

grannyjacob · 19/04/2020 19:51

I haven't got enough battery left on my tablet to read all this thread, so apologies if I'm re-stating what others may already have said. My oldest g'son applied for fruit picking jobs locally (wouldn't be for another couple of months, we're on the East coast of Scotland). He was turned down, told he had to be 18, which he will be in November. Was told it's because of various laws, H&S, etc. I find it impossible to believe that he will suddenly change overnight and thus automatically be eligible. Surely, if growers are so desperate for pickers, they should interview individuals, and judge their capabilities that way, rather than depending on set age limits. My g'son (normally) goes to college, had excellent school exam grades, took part in D of E awards, won various awards for various things at school (e.g. mentoring), has never been in any sort of trouble.

Leedsfan247 · 19/04/2020 19:56

It only pays that if you can keep up inexperienced workers would be too slow to start off with. If you slow everything down then the experienced people don’t earn - not a great position to be in.

StoneofDestiny · 19/04/2020 19:58

Spent many summers fruit and veg picking as a way of earning money in my university holidays. Hard work, got up incredibly early and spent every day outdoors regardless of the weather. No toilets, no shelter and very little time to talk.
Can't see a problem with doing it though if you need to earn money. Today they provide toilets - as they should.

Bart3j · 19/04/2020 20:01

But then he’s taxed for 2 jobs so doesn’t make sense. Surely makes more sense for those out of work to take this on?

Leedsfan247 · 19/04/2020 20:09

Agriculture is considered a key worker it’s public transport in the early hours that’s an issue

riceuten · 19/04/2020 20:10

I think you rather give the game away when you baldly state "is it beneath too many people?" - so, in your world, people could/should do it, but feel they "deserve better"

No, it's actually back breaking boring, dirty, repetitive work in all weathers for minimum wage, usually at a geographically distant locality (there's not many farms in the inner city, where much of the unemployment is). So unless you are young, fit, don't have kids, and already have a car, it's not really going to be ideal for you, is it ? But I guess if you're the kind of person who think all the unemployed are all lazy, good for nothing workshy fops who should be forced to work for their dole, then this is right up your street.

Leedsfan247 · 19/04/2020 20:13

Well there’s skilled and there’s skilled I’m not talking brain surgeon but if you’re sitting on a machine cutting cauliflowers you have to cut in the right place at the right time and you HAVE TO KEEP UP. People who do this regularly are skilled (at what they do) BTW I live in a farm!