Rural Migrant Workers – Modern Slavery?
Have you noticed that there aren’t so many “Pick Your Own” fruit farms this year? Few women have the time or inclination to make jam and jelly any more and PYO – once seen as a brilliant way for growers to sell their produce without having to pay pickers – is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
We still want to eat fresh or processed fruit and vegetables though, and are reliant on some 60,000 seasonal migrant workers to pick them. What is life like for such people? A lot depends on under whose auspices they come to this country to work, on how good their command of English is and how far they understand what rights they have for the minimum wage, health and safety, insurance and holidays. Many are very vulnerable to exploitation.
16 June 2005 marked the launch of a leaflet (with back up web information) for churches to encourage the exercising of pastoral care for these migrant workers. The launch was hosted by Jim Sheridan MP who promoted the Gangmasters Licensing legislation in 2004. Churches who are in touch with farmers in their patch will know whether and at what times they engage gangmasters to use contracted labour. The leaflet sets out some facts about what can be an emotive issue and suggests ways in which churches can befriend migrant workers and ensure that they have access to worship and recreation opportunities, IT facilities and the opportunity to meet local residents.
Some local churches are already finding imaginative ways to connect. In Gloucestershire, one person, en route to church on a scorching Sunday morning noticed a group of workers hard
at work picking soft fruit. After the service he and a friend returned armed with ice creams and offered them as “a gift from God”. It was only possible to manage a brief conversation, but the gesture was clearly appreciated.
The other extreme is represented by the churches in Gosberton, Lincolnshire. Unfortunately a very nasty dispute arose between a gangmaster and the local planning authority over the siting of accommodation blocks for workers. The Methodist minister acted as an honest broker and the fact that one of the church members was married to a Russian, who could
communicate with the folk from Baltic States who were siding with their gangmaster to resist the enforcement procedures, was critical. Many of the migrant workers needed to be found alternative accommodation and were looked after in churches and homes until they could find other work. This was a testing time for all concerned – but the life of the churches was deepened and enriched by the experience.
Copies of an A4 poster can be downloaded from
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk or
from
www.ctbi.org.uk (under Churches Commission for Racial Justice section) and copies of the leaflet can be obtained from
arcadmin@rase.org.uk Recognising the significance of this initiative on the part of the Churches’ Rural Group, Defra has funded the production of the leaflet, so there is no charge. Donations
towards the cost of postage are encouraged.
Jenny Carpenter
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
25
rural ministry
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