From 22nd September 2021, seasonal poultry workers arriving in England may work at their designated farm or processing plant during the quarantine period. Outside of working, and travelling in a Covid-19-secure manner between accommodation and work, workers must self-isolate in line with quarantine restrictions.
On the 27th November, the government announced that the rules would be changing for travellers arriving in the UK from 4am on Tuesday 30th November 2021. People arriving in the UK must now take a PCR test on or before day two after their arrival. Travellers must also self isolate, but fully vaccinated travellers can leave self isolation if their day two PCR test result is negative. The most up to date information on international travel can be found on gov.uk.
Quarantine and testing rules for travellers will depend on their vaccination status and which country they are arriving from.
The exemption for poultry workers should help ease concerns about Christmas shortages of turkey and other poultry and will be a welcome relief for farmers.
The NFU has welcomed the government’s steps with turkey group chair Michael Bailey saying: “We’re pleased that government has recognised the invaluable role seasonal poultry workers contribute to farm businesses preparing for the festive period to ensure we can all enjoy our traditional Christmas dinner.
“This timely exemption offers a practical solution to allow these much-needed workers to undertake key roles on farms and in processing facilities, and industry will continue to follow government guidance to help protect the health and safety of its staff.”
However, the exemption is not without conditions and their are several factors that farmers employing foreign workers should consider;
- Employers should check the latest rules for travellers arriving in England before workers set off from their home countries. Guidance is available on the government website
- Workers must not travel to England if they are unwell or have coronavirus symptoms. If they develop symptoms whilst traveling, they should alert the crew on the plane, boat, or train (or driver if travelling by coach or bus). They will inform the staff at the port of arrival who will give further instructions.
- Workers should establish whether they qualify as fully vaccinated. Further guidance is available on gov.uk which provides information on proving vaccination status.
- Before the worker travels to England under this scheme they will need to complete the passenger locator form 48 hours before they arrive in England.
- Seasonal poultry workers must present their visa confirming that they are travelling under the Seasonal worker pilot scheme or provide documentation confirming their EU settled or pre-settled status. You must also ensure that workers have a letter or email confirming that they have travelled to England to carry out seasonal poultry work at your farm. Read guidance on what you will need to show when you arrive at the UK border.
- Whilst in England regular rapid lateral flow tests should be taken in accordance with the current Government Guidance for seasonal Poultry workers. (This is separate to any testing required due to international travel).
- If a worker has been in a country or territory on the red list during the 10 days before they enter England, they must take a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before their departure date. The test must show a negative result for coronavirus (COVID-19). They will not be allowed to enter England if they receive a positive test result.
- If a worker has been in a red list country in the 10 days before they arrive in England they will need to quarantine in a government approved hotel and take a COVID-19 test on day 2 and day 8. This must be done even if the worker is fully vaccinated.
Workers who are fully vaccinated
- Before the worker travels to England under this scheme they will need to complete the passenger locator form 48 hours before they arrive in England
- If fully vaccinated the worker does not have to quarantine but must take a take a lateral flow device (LFD) test on day 2 after their arrival.
Workers who are not fully vaccinated
- Before a worker who is not fully vaccinated travels to England they will need to: take a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before their departure date and complete the passenger locator form 48 hours prior to arrival in England. Additional information must be completed on the form.
- Seasonal workers who are not fully vaccinated and arrive in the UK must go straight to the farm and somebody from the farm should collect them from the airport, port or station wherever possible. The worker must self-isolate for their first 10 days in England. They will need to stay at the address provided in the passenger locator form. They must not leave the farm (if living on the farm) or their accommodation during the first 10 days except to travel to and from work, or if there’s an emergency. Please see Government Guidance for further details.
- The worker should be put into a group that they will live and work with. For the first 10 days the worker should keep 2 metres apart from anyone outside their group.
- Employers should arrange for groceries, other shopping, or medication to be delivered during the isolation period.
- The worker must take lateral flow test on or before the end of days 2, 5 and 8 after their arrival. If any of these tests are positive, they must take a PCR test.
- If they are working at a processing site this means they must stay at the accommodation attached to the processing site or alternative accommodation and enter the address on the Passenger Locator Form.
Defra’s guidance on coming to the UK for seasonal agricultural work can be found here.
Government advice on making your business COVID-secure can be found here.
