Employer Pays Principle Feasibility Study Released

The Employer Pays Principle Feasibility Study, within the Horticulture Value Chain was commissioned and funded jointly by Defra and the Seasonal Worker Scheme Taskforce.

The study aims to address the risk of workers incurring debt for their migration costs while considering food security and the sector’s long-term sustainability.

The EPP states that: “No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer”. As defined by the International Labour Organisation, the costs of recruitment include the transportation and visa costs that workers can incur during their migration.

The research models the economic impacts and assesses the operational feasibility of different ways the EPP could potentially be implemented to determine their likely impact on consumers, retailers, growers and workers. Each option is assessed against its potential impact on: improving worker finances; mitigating the risk of debt due to lawful recruitment-related costs; overcoming short-term cash flow issues faced by scheme operators and growers; facilitating cost sharing across the supply chain and maximising sustainability of the UK horticulture sector.

Access a Copy of the Study here: https://sciencesearch.defra.go...