UK fruit and vegetable growers are recruiting seasonal harvesting workers from countries as far away as Morocco and Mongolia after the invasion of Ukraine prevented workers from travelling to Britain.
About 30,000 temporary labourers were recruited last year under a visa scheme that was ramped up after Brexit ended freedom of movement between the UK and European Union.
Two-thirds of workers hired under the scheme came from Ukraine. Many are now unable to travel to the UK to ease the shortage of farm labour.
Recruiters in the agricultural industry said they are struggling to cover the shortfall of experienced workers and have looked to countries such as the Philippines.
In addition to paperwork, these new workers will need to be trained and will therefore be less productive than experienced pickers.
Nick Ottewell, a director at salad grower LJ Betts, said none of the 40 Ukrainian workers who were there in 2021 were expected to return after visa processing in Kyiv broke down because of the invasion.
“The agencies have been channelling all their efforts in terms of their networking and infrastructure into Ukraine since [the seasonal workers’ scheme] restarted and that’s all been shattered,” he told the Financial Times. “Our industry is in a mess.”
Ukrainian males between the ages of 15 and 60 are not allowed to leave following the invasion. Many stay to fight for the armed forces or help with caring for family members.
The National Farmers’ Union this month said that Ukrainian workers had been essential to fruit and veg businesses over the past few years in roles such as planting, picking, packing and grading produce.
“UK Visas and Immigration [agency] is prioritising Ukraine Family Scheme applications in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine, and so applications for study, work and family visas may take longer to process,” a British government representative said.
Meanwhile, thousands of people, mainly women and children, continue to enter the UK as refugees.
About 15,800 visas have been issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme as of 5pm on Tuesday, the Home Office said.
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
If%20you%20go
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
