Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK1

POST BREXIT LABOUR SUPPLY IN AGRICULTURE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE UK

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 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK2

Abstract

The general objective of the study will be to examine the effect of post Brexit on the supply of

labour in private agricultural sector across the UK. The specific objectives will include

examining the effect of migrant workers on the private agricultural sector, to investigate the

impact of food sufficiency post Brexit in the UK and to establish the most effective policies and

regulations concerning the supply of labour in the private agricultural sector post Brexit. To

answer these research questions, descriptive study design shall be adopted. Purposive technique

shall be used to select the samples to be part of the study where 50 respondents will be targeted.

Primary data shall be collected through two instruments: interviews and a questionnaire.

Interview data will be analysed through thematic analysis while quantitative data collected using

questionnaires analysed using descriptive statistics through SPSS.

Introduction

The aim of this proposal is detailing the plan for conducting a study that will examine the Post

Brexit labour supply in the agricultural private sector in the United Kingdom (UK). The proposal

report has been subdivided into numerous sections that include the introduction that details the

topic area, the statement of purpose, research questions, the aim, and objectives. The second

section is the literature while the third details the proposed methodology. In particular, the

methodology section includes the research design, the sample, data collection methods,

instruments and procedures, and data analysis. Finally, the probable limitations of the study are

listed down as well as the ethical issues to consider.

Topic Area
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK3

The topic area that will be investigated is the supply of labour in the agricultural private sector

across the UK Post Brexit. The study will seek to examine the effects of Brexit on the

availability of labour in the farming private sector in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern

Ireland.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the study results will be to increase debate on this subject area and find

permanent solutions to problems that Brexit shall present to farmers across the UK. Conducting

the study will be beneficial to numerous stakeholders within the private agricultural sectors

including the government, the public, the farmers, the farm labourers as well as the traders.

Agricultural is an important sector within an economy due to food security an aspect that

increases the significance of conducting the research.

Research Questions

The main research question will be how post Brexit will affect labour supply in the private

agricultural sector in the UK. The specific questions will include:

1. What will be the effect migrant workers on the private agricultural sector?

2. How will food sufficiency in the UK be after post Brexit?

3. What will be the most effective policies and regulations concerning the supply of labour

in the private agricultural sector post Brexit?

Research Aim

The aim of the proposed research is establishing the how post Brexit will influence the

availability of labour in the private agricultural sector in the UK.

 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK4

Research Objectives

The general objective of the study will be to examine the effect of post Brexit on the supply of

labour in private agricultural sector across the UK. The specific objectives include:

1. To examine the effect of migrant workers on the private agricultural sector

2. To investigate the impact of food sufficiency post Brexit in the UK

3. To establish the most effective policies and regulations concerning the supply of labour

in the private agricultural sector post Brexit

Literature

According to Booth and Adam (2018), post Brexit one of the major problems that the UK private

agricultural sector will face concerns labour taking into consideration that most citizens in

Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England do not work in the farms. By 2018, statistics

shows that the UK completely depends on foreign workers to pick vegetables and fruits. For

instance, out of the 60,000 seasonal workers who worked on the fields in 2017 picking

vegetables and fruits, there was barely one percent British. Majority of the labour was sourced

from Eastern Europe in particular Romania and Bulgaria. According to the in place European

Union policy, the UK has its doors open for “free movement” of other members from the union

including the season farm workers who stay a period of at least 4 months and return to their

homes in winter. However, following the preparations to leave the EU, farmers are largely

concerned on the possibility of shortage of labour. In 2018, it was estimated that there could be

30-40% shortfall of labour and this would worsen after UK eventually leaving the EU (Booth

and Adam 2018). In agreement with Booth and Adam (2018), Carrington (2018) explains how
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK5

the shortage of labour caused by unavailability of migrant workers left tonnes of produce to rot

in the fields making farmers suffer large losses. The effect of labour shortage in the agricultural

sector started after the UK voted to leave EU in 2016. Carrington (2018) reports that failure by

the UK to attract farm labour workers has been caused by some foreign workers having the

feeling that UK is racist and xenophobic. In 2017, 12.5% of the vacancies to work on fields were

not filled a shortfall that had first been experienced in 2014. Further, the number of return

workers in the UK has been dropping from 41% in 2016 to 29% in 2017. These shortfalls are

increasingly becoming a worrying factor for many farmers in the private sector. The fear that

farmers expresses following post Brexit were highlighted by Downing and Coe (2018) in a

briefing paper of the House of Commons majorly because the UK largely relies on migrant

workers to work in the agricultural sector. According to Dench et al., (2006), the agricultural

sector in the UK has preferred migrant workers because they tend to demonstrate lower

absenteeism and turnover, they can work longer and flexible hours, and they have a high

productivity and speed. In comparison to the British people, migrant workers are more attractive

for the farmers because the retaining and recruiting the former is not easy. First, many of the

British workers are reluctant living in the farm, and they are more likely not work at the intensity

needed for earning the minimum wage in agriculture. In addition, most of the large private firms

are located in locations that are isolated and hence have poor public transport which discourages

most of the British workers. Heasman and Morley (2017) supported the assertion that the two

main problems that the UK will face post Brexit in relation to the private agricultural sector is

shortage of labour due to the limitation of EU migrants and the requirement to recruit

approximately 140,000 labourers by the year 2024. Despite the underlying problems which the

farmers acknowledge will have direct consequences, White and Michalopoulos (2017) reported
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK6

that farmers are still viewing Brexit to be an opportunity to adopt effective policies that will

ensure the UK is more food sufficient. Farmers are counting on the British government to fill the

gaps that the EU will leave including funds that were being channelled in the agricultural sector

as well as “free movement” that facilitated easier access to migrant workers. The farmers are

convinced that the government has to put in place policies that will make recruitment for migrant

workers less difficult and avoid a scenario where consumers are forced to pay 50% more of the

normal prices as a result of many agricultural products like fruits rotting in the fields. Nye (2018)

reported that one of the temporary solutions being pushed by the government is a seasonal

agricultural workers scheme that will see allocation of sex-month visas to 2,500 workers from

outside Europe. However, as Nye (2018) observed, the scheme will have a little effect post

Brexit making many British farmers suffer from financial problems as well reduction in the

global competitiveness. O'Carroll (2018) provides an analysis of British farmers criticising the

temporary agriculture worker visa scheme as it will not be able to fill the gap brought about by

Brexit. The farmers association has stated that the acceptable number is 10,000 as shortages of

farm labourers continue to rise by the day.

Methodology

Research Design, strategy, and framework

Based on the research question, the most appropriate research design for the proposed study is

descriptive design. Descriptive design is significant in providing answers to the questions of

where, when, who, what and how. A descriptive research is useful in extracting information

which relates to the current phenomenon (Lampard, and Pole, 2015). In this case, this research

design will be critical in obtaining relevant data on the effects post Brexit will have on the labour
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK7

supply with UK’s private agricultural sector. In relation to the research strategy, it is proposed

that the study will employ both qualitative and quantitative methods and hence a mixed

methodology. Qualitative data is non-numeric compared to quantitative data which is numerical.

The research framework is as shown in the figure below.

Effect on migrant workers

UK private agricultural sector

Food Sufficiency in the UK

Farm labour policies and regulations

Figure 1 Research Framework

Sample
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK8

The sample for the proposed study shall be sourced from different stakeholders within the private

agricultural sector among them farmers, private and government policy makers, representatives

of farmer unions as well as farm labourers. Purposive technique shall be used to select the

samples to be part of the study. The researcher targets 50 respondents as the sample.

Data Collection

Primary data will be gathered from the identified population. Primary data is raw data which has

not been previously used. The respondents will be relied upon to provide the raw data.

Instruments and Procedures

The two main instruments to collect the data will be interviews and questionnaires. Considering

that the strategy to be adopted is mixed methodology, interviews shall be used to collect

qualitative data while quantitative data will be gathered through questionnaires. The researcher

will prepare these instruments in advance. Some of the interviews shall be conducted through the

phone. To test the validity and reliability of these instruments, a pilot study shall be conducted

with 10 respondents. The results from the pilot will not be included in the actual study analysis.

Further, the pilot will be used to improve the research questions to ensure they are clear to the

respondents in terms of meaning and ascertain that they will help achieve answer main question

which surrounds post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK.

Data Analysis

Analysis of the data collected through interviews will be analysed through thematic analysis

where recurrent themes shall be identified from the primary data (Saunders, Kitzinger, and
 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK9

Kitzinger, 2015). On the other hand, quantitative data gathered via the questionnaires shall be

analysed through descriptive statistics. SPSS software shall be the main software to be used.

Limitations

One of the limitations of the study is the sample. Considering the geographical area of the UK

only a few sample respondents will be recruited to be part of the study. The study will also be

limited by budgetary constraints.

Ethical Issues

To ensure the study achieves the intended purpose, adhering to ethical regulations will be

important. As a result, the researcher will ensure that consent has been obtained from all the

respondents through signing a consent form. Apart from this, maintaining privacy of the

respondents personal information will be critical as well as confidentiality of the data collected.

For privacy reasons, respondents will remain anonymous. Finally, the data will be stored in a

password protected personal computer.

 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK10

References

Booth, W., and Adam, K., 2018. Brits don’t want to work on farms – so who will pick fruit after

Brexit? [Online] Available at https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-

agriculture-farms-fruit-picking-migrant-workers-labour-shortage-a8469806.html

[Accessed 12th Jan 2019].

Carrington, D., 2018. Lack of migrant workers left food rotting in UK fields last year, data

reveals. [Online] Available at

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/09/lack-of-migrant-workers-left-

food-rotting-in-uk-fields-last-year-data-reveals [Accessed 12th Jan 2019].

Dench, S., Hurtsfield, J., Hill, D. and Akroyd, K. 2006, Employers’ Use of Migrant Labour.

(London: Home Office).

Downing, E., and Coe, S., 2018. Brexit: Future UK Agriculture Policy. House of Commons.

Briefing Paper.Number CBP 8218.

Heasman, M. and Morley, A.S., 2017. Earning a Crust? A review of labour trends in UK food

manufacturing. London: Food Research Collaboration.

Lampard, R., & Pole, C. (2015). Practical social investigation: Qualitative and quantitative

methods in social research. Routledge.

Nye, C., 2018. British farms could get a special pass to hire migrant workers after Brexit.

[Online] Available athttps://theconversation.com/british-farms-could-get-a-special-pass-

to-hire-migrant-workers-after-brexit-103393[Accessed 12th Jan 2019].

 Post Brexit labour supply in agriculture private sector in the UK11

O'Carroll, L., 2018. Brexit: farmers criticise temporary agricultural worker visa scheme. [Online]

Available athttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/06/government-to-issue-

temporary-work-visas-to-help-uk-fruit-farmers[Accessed 12th Jan 2019].

Saunders, B., Kitzinger, J., & Kitzinger, C. (2015). Anonymising interview data: Challenges and

compromise in practice. Qualitative Research, 15(5), 616-632.

White, S., and Michalopoulos, S., 2017. Despite labour shortage, British farmers aim for post-

Brexit food self-sufficiency. [Online] Available

athttps://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/british-fruit-farmers-have-

warned-the-future-of-their-sector-is-at-risk-because-they-cannot-find-enough-seasonal-

workers-to-pick-their-produce-however-farmers-still-see-brexit-as-an-opportunity-to-a/

[Accessed 12th Jan 2019].

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Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed

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