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Several reasons why this doesn't work, from someone who worked in the fruit farming industry until I was 21. Thread 1/8
#coronavirus #food #farminguk https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1244341326935621632
#coronavirus #food #farminguk https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1244341326935621632
1) These jobs are concentrated in specific locations, frequently in areas where farming is the main industry. So a lot of the newly unemployed will be too far away for this to be viable (or desirable if we're limiting travel) 2/8
2) It's incredibly physical work. To the point where someone who's spent every day behind a desk and doesn't exercise simply won't last. And a lot of unfit people suddenly doing this could place extra strain on healthcare. 3/8
3) It's NOT unskilled work. Pickers need to select the correct fruit, packers need to know how to operate the heavy machinery. You also have to be highly efficient/fast at the work. 4/8
4) Some, if not many, will consider the work "beneath them". They're wrong, but you can't really blame someone used to doing completely different types of work not being willing to do this. 5/8
5) The hours don't work for families. Starts are normally at/before 7am, so when schools return, it doesn't work because there's no way to get the child there while you're out in a field. 6/8
6) Multiple minor things, like people not having suitable clothes, not having transport access, as well as more serious things (it's not an accessible job for those with disabilities, mostly) stop people. 7/8
All in all, you need the foreign workers because they have the experience, the ability and capability, and the dedication to the work. 8/8
