The EPP (Employer Pays Principle) Feasibility Study considers the impact on worker welfare and, in particular, the sustainability of the horticulture sector as well as food security and consumer interests.
Publication of the Defra and Seasonal Worker Task Force funded study is expected very soon. The writers, Alma Economics will be hosting a webinar on 8 July at 2pm which will cover the objectives, methodology and outputs.
The webinar is open to all interested parties.
EPP study explained
Commissioned in November last year, the NFU has been working to ensure that the challenges facing the sector are fully understood and has a seat on the project advisory group.
The feasibility study follows the previous government’s response to the Shropshire Review of labour shortages in the UK food supply chain, in May, which included a commitment to ‘investigate the use of the EPP for the seasonal worker visa route’.
The issue was then pushed to the forefront of growers’ minds when, without consultation or impact assessment, assurance organisation Sedex unveiled its ‘version seven’ SMETA employee welfare audit, a supply chain requirement for many fresh produce businesses. That included the EPP, among several other areas of concern.
The increased interest in the idea comes as grower businesses continue to feel the squeeze of a hugely challenging operating environment, with further overheads due to changes in the Autumn Budget to employer National Insurance contributions, and to the National Living Wage.
Throughout the study the NFU has made it clear that, for many UK growers, any additional cost burden could stretch already taut bottom lies to breaking point.
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