The British Poultry Council (BPC) has announced there will be enough turkeys for Christmas. This news comes as some relief after headlines earlier in the year revealed farmers鈥� warnings of turkey shortages due to the lack of staff.
The announcement was made amidst the UK鈥檚 widespread labour shortages, and the deadline for recruiting temporary EU workers to process turkeys closing.
This opening for foreign workers is reported to be a temporary measure to help the poultry industry as it gears up for Christmas. This measure is the result of months of pressure placed on the government to relax immigration rules.
Of the 5,500 visas made available, the council believes only a near half of the visas have been taken (around 2,500 鈥� 3,000 applications), however, Richard Griffiths (BPC head) says 鈥淚t鈥檒l get us over the line鈥� 鈥� this year experiencing a cut in the number of birds reared.
More from News
- Can Europe Solve Its Critical Minerals Problem Fast Enough To Support Its Tech Ambitions?
- Google Has Agreed To A 拢260 Million Settlement: Who’s Eligible For Compensation?
- China Wants To Build A Third Global AI Bloc 鈥� What Does That Mean For Everyone?
- Advanced AI Society Joins the Linux Foundation And Launches Open Verification Ecosystem
- What Could Snap鈥檚 Partnerships With Big Tech Mean For The AR Industry?
- Why Did A Four-Year Bomb Threat Campaign Involving 500,000 Gmail Accounts Go Unchecked?
- What Do Dario Amodei And The JCHR’s AI Warnings Mean For Startups and SMEs?
- Exabeam Research: Security Leaders Identify AI Agent Access As A Top Insider Risk Priority
鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to streamline products and reduce the variety, so that helps with the overall volume. There will be a focus on whole birds and very simple crowns and roasts,” Griffiths continues.
While the BPC has claimed there will be enough birds for the holidays, the choices for this year will be limited.
It鈥檚 claimed that the relaxed immigration rules have made a positive difference for farmers preparing for Christmas, one Essex turkey producer Paul Kelly commenting on the BBC that 鈥淐hristmas has been saved. I just wish they鈥檇 done it earlier鈥� 听
鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to do this job without seasonal workers. People say to me, you should employ local people鈥� 听
鈥淲ell, I have four weeks鈥� work at Christmas. So how can I expect people to give up a full-time job to come for a month?鈥�听
While this temporary measure has been made for this Christmas, without a permanent scheme for seasonal workers, what will next Christmas bring?
