Rapid expansion of visa scheme leaves seasonal workers at risk of exploitation

Experts say scheme's rules urgently need significant changes to prioritise worker protection

• Indonesians wait on UK farm jobs after paying deposits of up to 2,500
• Indonesian man who paid 1,000 for UK farm job

As farms began to panic about a likely shortage of labour caused by Brexit, the seasonal worker visa was presented as a panacea.

Just 2,500 people came to Britain in a pilot of the scheme in 2019. But when the predicted shortage came to pass the following year, it was expanded rapidly, before an assessment of the pilot could be concluded.