Migrant butchers in the UK could soon be paid more than their British counterparts because of new immigration laws and the ongoing labour shortage post-Brexit. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has raised concerns that recent changes to immigration laws, which took effect in April, have significantly increased the salary threshold for skilled worker visas. The threshold has been raised by more than £12,000, now requiring employers to pay overseas workers a minimum of £38,700, compared to the previous threshold of £26,200.
Before this law change, migrant workers and UK workers with similar qualifications earned the same wage, starting at £26,200. However, the new rules mean that overseas butchers must now be paid a significantly higher salary, leading to a 49% increase in wage costs for employers. This increase could lead to a situation where migrant butchers are paid more than British abattoir workers, who make up only 30% of the workforce. The remaining 70% of abattoir staff in the UK are from EU countries, and the industry is struggling to recruit locally.
The higher cost of recruiting migrant workers does not stop at their salaries. There are additional expenses of up to £10,000 to £15,000 per worker, which makes hiring them even more costly. These roles, particularly in skilled and specialized areas like abattoirs and boning halls, are the hardest to fill with British workers.
The BMPA has warned that the increased salaries for migrant workers could lead to a wave of equal pay lawsuits from UK workers, further complicating matters for employers. If this happens, British consumers could end up paying more for their food. Additionally, abattoirs may struggle to fill vacancies, leading to a reduction in their operations. This could have serious consequences for British livestock farming and the nation’s food security.
The number of abattoirs in the UK has already decreased dramatically, from around 2,500 in the 1970s to just 203 today. If abattoirs cannot hire enough workers, they may have no choice but to scale back their businesses, reducing the number of animals they purchase from farmers and the amount of food produced domestically. The BMPA warns that losing more abattoirs would harm economic growth, increase dependence on food imports, and make the UK more vulnerable to external shocks, such as wars and climate-related shortages.
The association has called on the government to replace the current “one size fits all” visa threshold with a system that is better suited to different industries. They have also urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to negotiate a veterinary deal with the EU, which would help ease some of the post-Brexit trade barriers and ensure smoother exports and imports of meat products. Such a deal is seen as crucial for maintaining “carcass balance,” which involves finding markets for less popular parts of animals, helping to keep food prices low in the UK.
A government spokesperson responded by saying that there is a plan in place to reduce high levels of legal migration while addressing the skills shortage through better training for the UK workforce. The government also plans to introduce a new deal for farmers aimed at improving food security and promoting rural economic growth.