Forum Topic

How strange.

Trying to cut down on plastic, now we have more plastic and perspex than ever in shops to protect staff. Also visor's.  Burka, a few argument's on the subject about not seeing faces for security reasons. Now we have all got to wear a mask. Also electric what about ELECTRIC now we are nearly being knocked over or seriously injured, by people on electric scooters or bikes as they go too fast and don't abide by the rule of 20 mph. Can anybody think of anything else? Somebody works in mysterious ways.

Barbara Stevens ● 2094d8 Comments

@Michael Sorry and to run. Precisely the cost charged at point of sale compared to the cost recovered by the farmer is a big issue that needs to be addressed. WTO will undoubtedly mean even less to UK farmers. Good or bad I'm not saying.

Ed Robinson ● 2093d

Ed. I'd agree with that but would that create an issue with the supermarkets who seem to squeeze the produces on price and thence the use of cheap foreign labour?

Michael Ixer ● 2093d

Sue. That wouldn't surprise me. I heard a story of someone willing to do it but the employer couldn't be flexible on hours which caused the applicant an issue witch childcare so they had to withdraw.

Michael Ixer ● 2093d

Not entirely accurate Michael.  There was a debate about seasonal working and foreign workers on LBC a month or so ago.  Quite a few young people called and said they really wanted to do this work to earn some money whilst on summer break from uni. They had applied to various farms but were either told there were no vacancies (?) or were offered a job that paid below the minimum wage, which they would not accept. The truth is that most farmers prefer to employ foreign workers because they can exploit this source of cheap labour.

Sue Hammond ● 2093d

@Barbara - Many of the workers come from countries with a lower rate of infection than the UK. The fact that 70 have it implies they are sharing crowded shared accommodation. I have to research this example but certainly that was the weak link even in Singapore's big clusters.@Michael - Arguments range from UK workers are too reluctant, unreliable, not skilled enough, too unfit with the occasional reference to pay and conditions.It may be better to start with the last point which is easiest to prove.

Ed Robinson ● 2093d

My understanding is if we didn't allow seasonal workers in to harvest fruit it wouldn't get done. Those trying to recruit British workers found them reluctant to apply and those that did unreliable. How would you resolve that without foreign workers? Would you be happy to pay twice (a guestimeate) as much for your fruit and veg to attract UK workers?

Michael Ixer ● 2093d

All the foreign workers let in the country to help on farms Hereford etc. Now they have touched all fruit and veg being sent to Asda, Sainsbury's etc. 70 or more of them have the virus and put into lock down on the farm. When will this country stop being soft and allowing people in and could give another wave to the rest of us.

Barbara Stevens ● 2093d

God perhaps?

Caroline Whitehead ● 2093d