THE incoming Labour Government is being called upon to swiftly revise its immigration policies to assist the North-east seafood industry, which is currently facing a severe crisis.
Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic have taken away vital immigrant labor from the sector. Previously, these individuals constituted a significant portion of the workforce, with over 75% at certain seafood processing facilities in the North-east.
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The departure of Britain from the European Union and the restriction of labor movement across countries have created a significant obstacle to hiring new workers.
Furthermore, the pandemic led to many of the migrant workers who had been crucial to the industry’s operations deciding to leave the UK, return to their home countries, and not come back.
In a letter to the newly appointed UK Government ministers and officials, one of the north-east’s key economic sectors is asking for assistance. The message highlights that the industry’s expansion is being hindered by a significant lack of workers.
The letter is endorsed by Elspeth Macdonald, the head of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Mike Park, the CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association, Andrew Brown, the chairman of the Scottish Seafood Association, Donna Fordyce, the CEO of Seafood Scotland, and Ann Bell, a Councillor from Aberdeenshire who leads the North East Scotland Fisheries Development Partnership.
The letter recommends a simpler immigration process for skilled workers to help bridge a growing gap between job vacancies and available talent.
