Labour in the Supply Chain
Making food and drink products in factories is a complicated process that often
requires large numbers of staff. But attracting British people to unskilled and
semi-skilled jobs in the sector is becoming more difficult. This means the
industry has become increasingly reliant on migrant labour.
Migrant workers are extremely valuable to the UK's food and drink sector. They
are often flexible and willing to work unsociable shifts in factories that run 24
hours a day. They are also important during times of peak seasonal demand, when
extra labour is required.
However, FDF members would like to see Improve, the Sector Skills Council for
the food industry, do more to improve the image
of the food and drink industry as
an attractive place for unskilled and
semi-skilled British people to work in.
Over-reliance on migrant workers is
undesirable because they cannot be relied upon
to
always be there. If economic or
demographic factors change, UK food and
drink
manufacturers could find
themselves
short of the staff required to produce
the food
and drink products
we
take
for
granted. Ensuring workforces have a
core
of
British
workers
would help
avoid
this problem.
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