Fruit and vegetable growers will be put out of business by the “catastrophic” impact of the national living wage, the National Farmers’ Union in the UK has warned.
The new age will guarantee workers over the age of 25 at least £7.20 an hour from this month, rising to £9 an hour by 2020.
Analysis for the NFU by consultants Andersons found that within three years of coming into effect, the new wage could make UK fruit and vegetable growers unprofitable resulting in more imports.
The NFU is calling for a delay to the planned increase in the new wage.
