The UK government will introduce changes to the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) from November 2025, providing growers and overseas staff greater flexibility to move between harvests. The scheme allows temporary overseas labour to support domestic crop harvesting.
Under the new rules, horticulture workers will be able to spend up to six months in the UK within any 10-month period. This revision shortens the interval between visas, enabling workers to return earlier and move between different harvests more efficiently, from spring crops such as daffodils and asparagus to summer fruit, including strawberries and plums.
The decision follows ongoing discussions with industry representatives and is intended to address early-season labour shortages that have left some crops unharvested in previous years. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has been advocating for the change to give both growers and workers more operational flexibility.
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett said, "This is a significant achievement and something we've long been campaigning for. It gives workers and employers the flexibility needed for the unpredictability that can often come with farming and growing."
He added, "This will also help workers, who are a vital part of our industry, to maximise their earning opportunities, as well as boost confidence among farmers and growers. To strengthen this further, it's essential that the government confirms the SWS 2026 visa allocation as soon as possible, giving growers the certainty they need that enough workers will be available for next year's harvest."
The NFU has also urged the government to extend similar flexibility to seasonal poultry workers to help balance labour demand across agricultural sectors.
While the union has welcomed the reform, it has reiterated the need for long-term certainty on worker availability. Previous labour shortages have led to losses in perishable crops that could not be harvested in time.
The NFU continues to emphasize that a stable seasonal workforce is essential to maintaining the continuity of British fruit and vegetable production and ensuring that domestic produce reaches the market efficiently.
Source: FarmingUK
