The landscape of seasonal fruit picking in the UK has dramatically shifted, with 78.5% of workers now hailing from Central Asia. This change is primarily due to the sharp decline in Ukrainian workers following the Russian invasion, which saw numbers plummet from nearly 20,000 in 2021 to just 530 by 2025.
Countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan are now sending the majority of temporary workers. This influx coincides with tightening regulations in Russia, where Central Asian migrants face restrictions, prompting many to seek opportunities elsewhere, including the UK.
Despite the high approval rates for UK seasonal worker visas, the programme remains limited, with fewer than 40,000 visas issued annually. This contrasts sharply with the millions of Central Asians working in Russia, highlighting the precarious nature of the UK’s labour market for these workers.
As the UK relies heavily on this workforce, the implications for agriculture and food supply chains are significant. The shift not only affects the availability of seasonal labour but also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector, given the restrictive visa conditions and the potential for future geopolitical instability.
Source: LBC News
