‘Scandal in plain sight’: charities call for help for Ukrainian seasonal workers

Farm workers in UK at risk of destitution and abuse, and should be on family scheme visas, say campaigners

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

Lawyers and campaigners have called on the government to take urgent action to help thousands of Ukrainian seasonal farm workers who were in the UK when the war started and have been left at risk of destitution, abuse and exploitation here.

Ukrainians made up by far the largest proportion of workers in the UK on seasonal worker visas in 2021. Of the 29,631 visas issued under the T5 seasonal work scheme, 19,920 - 67% - were given to Ukrainians. The Scottish Refugee Council estimates that there are up to 6,000 in the UK.