Fruit and vegetable pickers abused in visa farm scheme

Migrant workers tell of sexual harrassment and violence

- HOLLY BANCROFT

Migrant fruit and vegetable pickers coming to the UK to work on farms are being bullied and sexually harassed, a report on the seasonal worker visa scheme has found.

Testimonies from workers detail rape threats and harassment in a “pervasive” environment of bullying and humiliation on UK farms, with workers reporting passing out due to work conditions and having wages withheld.

Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) says it raised concerns about the plight of tens of thousands of workers when a visa scheme was launched three years ago – and that the new research demonstrates the consequences of the government’s failure to act.

The workers, many of whom came from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan, described “constant yelling” as a part of working life. A small number of pickers said they were sexually harassed, with two telling researchers they were expected to provide regular sexual services to their employer.

Two workers said they had been sexually harassed by other pickers on the farm. In one case a woman in her forties from a central Asian country was threatened with rape by a group of men on the farm she was living and working on. She reported the threats to the farm management and was called to a meeting with her manager and the eight men who were making the threats in the same room, according to the report.

She told researchers: “Having experienced all this nightmare, someone on the farm should be tasked to ensure the safety of lone female workers.” She said she was hesitant to tell the authorities because she was worried if the farm management found out they “may decide to get rid of me”.