The boss of Sainsbury’s has called for people working on farms and in factories to be added to the official shortage occupation list. Simon Roberts has warned that a lack of workers in its supply chain could lead to higher food prices.
The call bears striking similarity to that emanating from Northern Ireland’s mushroom sector last month.
“We’ve got to make sure there are no labour shortages because that can put pressure on food availability, which in turn puts pressure on prices.”
An independent review by Defra into labour shortages in the food sector said they highlighted the importance of addressing labour challenges for a robust domestic food supply chain.
The National Farmers’ Union has estimated that £60 million of food was wasted in the first half of 2022 alone due to a shortage of people available to pick fruit and vegetables.”
A government spokeswoman said: “ We are working closely with the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure our points-based system delivers for the UK and workers in the best interests of the economy, including reviewing the shortage occupation list to ensure it reflects the current labour market.”
