Horticultural Sector Committee how much exploitation and abuse do seasonal workers face

10.30am the Committee will be hearing evidence from:

• Caroline Robinson, Human Rights Consultant
• Adis Sehic, Policy and Research Officer, Work Rights Centre
• Kate Roberts, Head of Policy, Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX).

At 11.30am the committee will hear from:

• David Neal, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
• Suzanne McCarthy, Board Member, Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority
• Margaret Beels OBE, Director of Labour Market Enforcement, Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement.

These evidence sessions, which are open to the public, will be held in Committee Room 4 of the House of Lords and streamed live on Parliament TV.

Topics the committee is likely to cover in these sessions include:

• The reliance of the UK horticultural sector on seasonal workers.
• Pressures the UK has faced in recruiting an adequate supply of seasonal workers.
• The treatment of seasonal workers on UK horticulture farms.
• Challenges in identifying and measuring the scale of labour market non-compliance.
• Factors that influence the decision to withdraw a licence from an operator.
• The Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2023 to 2024.

More about this inquiry
The cross-party Horticultural Sector Committee is considering the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector, including the impact of rising input costs and labour and skills shortages, and how innovative technologies might address these issues and other pressing challenges such as the impact of climate change on productivity and food supply. In addition, it will explore how policy can support the sector in meeting the Government’s ambitions for levelling up and post-Brexit trade policy. It will publish its report by the end of this year.