Seasonal migrant workers in Scottish agriculture: research report

Appendix B: Employer Survey

Firstly, we ask you some questions on your agricultural business

Q1. What is your main role in the business?

[single code]

• Owner / Partner
• Manager / Supervisor
• Other (please specify)

Q2. If you have crops, please tell us about your land use in hectares

[numeric box for each category]

• Cereals, oilseed and protein crops
• Potatoes
• Stockfeed
• Vegetables for human consumption
• Fruit grown in the open
• Nursery stock grown in the open
• Glasshouses or walk-in cover
• Fallow land, Grass, Woodland and other land
• Other crops not listed above

Q3. If you have livestock, please provide us with numbers for these different categories

[numeric box for each category]

• Pigs
• Sheep
• Poultry
• Other livestock

Q4. Area of land you own (hectares)

[numeric box]

Q5. Area of land you rent on a full tenancy (hectares)

[numeric box]

About your workforce

Next, we ask you questions about your overall workforce

Q6. Please enter the 3 digits of the Parish Code of your main agricultural holding.

[numeric box]

Q7. Did you experience any labour shortages in 2021?

• Overall numbers of workers
• Unskilled labour
• Skilled labour

Scale: Yes, No, DK, n/a

Q8. In 2021, what categories of workforce were working in the agricultural business? (Please select all that apply)

• Full-time regular staff
• Part-time regular staff
• Casual and seasonal staff
• None of the above

Q9. Approximately how many in 2021?

[numeric box for each category]

• Full-time regular staff
• Part-time regular staff
• Casual and seasonal staff

Q10. Please tell us the typical hours worked per week by each of these groups:

[numeric box for each category]

• Full-time regular staff
• Part-time regular staff
• Casual and seasonal staff

Q11. Did your casual and seasonal workforce in 2021 include seasonal migrant workers? (Please select all that apply)

• Yes, EU settled status,
• Yes, Seasonal Workers Pilot (SWP)
• Yes, other migrant workers from outside UK and EU,
• No, UK only,
• Don't know,
• N/A – No seasonal and casual workforce

Q12. As part of the Seasonal Workers Pilot which agencies provided you with workers in 2021? (please select all that apply)

[multi-select]

• AG Recruitment and Management ltd
• Concordia ltd
• Fruitful Jobs
• Pro-Force Ltd
• Don't know
• N/a

Q13. From your total number of casual and seasonal workers, please let us know approximately what proportion (%) were from these categories. Please note these should add to 100.

[numeric box for each category]

• UK seasonal workers,
• EU settled status
• Seasonal Workers Pilot (SWP)
• Other seasonal migrant workers,
• Don't know

Q14. For seasonal migrant workers in 2021, please estimate the proportion (%). Please note proportions should add to 100.

• Directly recruited
• Recruited by labour providers, including Machinery Ring, Gangmasters
• Don't know

Q15. Please indicate whether seasonal workers in 2021 came from these countries of origin (please select all that apply)

[multi-select]

• Scotland,
• Rest of UK,
• Barbados,
• Belarus,
• Bulgaria,
• Czechia/Czech republic,
• France,
• Hungary,
• Moldova,
• Netherlands,
• Latvia,
• Lithuania,
• Kazakhstan,
• Romania,
• Russian Federation,
• Slovakia,
• Ukraine,
• Uzbekistan,
• Don't know,
• Other (please specify)

Q16. The approximate total number of seasonal migrant workers each month in 2021

[numeric box for each category]

• Jan,
• Feb,
• Mar,
• Apr,
• May,
• Jun,
• Jul,
• Aug,
• Sep,
• Oct,
• Nov,
• Dec

Q17. Do you provide accommodation for any seasonal migrant workers?

• Yes, all seasonal migrant workers
• Yes, 50% or higher
• Yes, under 50%
• No

Q18. What hourly rates did you pay seasonal migrant workers in 2021? (£)

[numeric box for each category]

• Typical rate
• Lowest rate
• Highest rate

Q19. How do the following relate to the pay of seasonal migrant workers?

• Any work permits
• Accommodation
• Accommodation inspections
• Food
• Laundry
• Gas/ electricity
• Wi-Fi
• Travel to nearest town/ village
• Travel to/ from airport

Scale: We deducted from their pay, we cover these costs in addition to their pay, not applicable, don't know

Q20. If your agricultural business did not have access to seasonal migrant labour in Scotland, what is the likelihood of the following occurring in relation to your business?

• Maintain existing business structure,
• Downscale business
• Cease current activity
• Relocate overseas
• Relocate within the UK
• Automate production
• Increase local recruitment
• Increase wages to attract staff,
• Increase internal skills development
• Switch to other agricultural activities (e.g. cereals / livestock)
• Focus on non-agricultural activities

Scale: Definitely will not happen, Probably will not happen, Probably will happen, Definitely will happen, Don't Know

Q21. What is your view of the UK compared to other European countries for each of these aspects for seasonal migrant workers:

• Ease to obtain working permits or visas
• Costs to obtain working permits or visas
• Wages
• Standard of working conditions
• Flexibility to change employer
• Standard of living conditions
• Pastoral care
• Facilities for workers
• Length of typical working day
• Length of typical working week
• Use of modern/ innovative technology in farming
• Positivity by general population towards migrant workers
• Work place language provision for non-native speakers

Scale: Relatively high, average, relatively low, DK