An independent UN human rights expert has raised concerns that the UK government may be breaching international law by failing to investigate “clear indicators of forced labor” within its seasonal worker scheme.
Tomoya Obokata, the UN’s special rapporteur on modern slavery, expressed worry over reports of intimidation, threats, sexual harassment, and substandard living conditions faced by individuals working on UK farms. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), NGOs, government officials, and parliamentary inquiries have all highlighted signs of forced labor, including long working hours, underpayment, and limited access to sick leave.
Obokata emphasized that while not every farm may be implicated, even one victim represents a serious issue. The seasonal worker scheme, initiated in 2019 to address anticipated labor shortages exacerbated by Brexit, has rapidly expanded from 2,500 visas in 2019 to 55,000 this year. Despite its growth, the program has faced persistent allegations of worker mistreatment, including systematic bullying and abuse uncovered by TBIJ in March 2023.
In October, TBIJ revealed that the Home Office had failed to investigate hundreds of allegations made by seasonal workers regarding threats, wage theft, and racism. The UK government asserted ongoing improvements to the scheme to prevent exploitation but took two months to interview workers at one farm following recent allegations of exploitation.
Obokata compared the UK scheme to a similar visa program for farm workers in Canada, stating that the Canadian system appeared to be “better regulated” due to written agreements between the Canadian government and the countries from which it recruits workers. In contrast, the UK scheme places significant power in the hands of private sector recruiters, known as scheme operators, creating a dependency that may discourage workers from reporting abuse.
The UN expert highlighted the need for the UK government to monitor and inspect workplaces closely instead of relying on licensed operators for enforcement. The current system, with operators recruiting workers from over 60 countries, raises concerns about the government’s ability to fulfill its human rights obligations in preventing and addressing forced labor within the seasonal worker scheme.
