Charities are urgent calling for help to support Ukrainian seasonal workers. These workers face risks of destitution and abuse. They should ideally be eligible for family scheme visas, which offer better protection and rights.
Lawyers and campaigners are pressing the government to take immediate action. Thousands of Ukrainian seasonal farmworkers need help. These workers were in the UK when the war in Ukraine started. Now, they face destitution, abuse, and exploitation. In 2021, Ukrainians made up 67% of the 29,631 T5 seasonal work visas. According to the Scottish Refugee Council, there may be up to 6,000 Ukrainian seasonal workers in the UK.
The UK government has introduced two schemes to help Ukrainians. These are the family visa scheme and the community sponsorship scheme. However, Ukrainian farmworkers on six-month visas do not qualify for either. The Home Office has extended their visas until the end of 2024. Yet, these workers are tied to their employers. They cannot seek other employment or access public funds. They also cannot bring their families to the UK.
Graham O’Neill, the policy manager at the Scottish Refugee Council, is advocating for these temporary workers. He wants them moved to the Ukraine family scheme, which offers more rights and protections. Organizations like Focus On Labour Exploitation (Flex) have written to the Home Secretary and the Immigration Minister. They highlight the dire situation of Ukrainian farmworkers and urge policy changes to protect them. Lucila Granada, Flex’s chief executive, emphasizes the need to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of Ukrainian workers. She wants them to have permission to work outside the agricultural sector and access public funds.
The poor working conditions and exploitation of seasonal farmworkers are well documented. The Work Rights Centre recently published a report on this issue. Many exploited workers are Ukrainian, like Oksana (not her real name), an IT worker from Ukraine. She came to the UK in August 2021 with her partner, a medical student, to work on a berry farm. They were given work intermittently and faced exploitation. After complaining without resolution, they left the farm and now live undocumented. They work without permission in cleaning and construction. They are unable to apply for the family or community sponsor visa schemes from within the UK.
Oksana expressed her distress. She feels “lost and torn” between staying undocumented in the UK or returning to Ukraine. The Home Office declined to comment on the visa situation for Ukrainian workers. A government spokesperson said they are working quickly to ensure safety for those fleeing persecution in Ukraine. Various visa schemes have been set up to help them.
In conclusion, the plight of Ukrainian seasonal workers highlights the urgent need for government intervention. Policy adjustments are necessary to protect these vulnerable individuals from exploitation and destitution
Source: The Guardian
