As well as poultry workers, the government confirmed over the weekend that 5,000 fuel tanker and food lorry drivers will be eligible to work in the UK for three months.
The growing labour crisis has resulted in empty shelves in supermarkets and, in some cases, food left on farms unable to be picked up or processed.
The visas have been requested on a COVID recovery basis to alleviate labour shortages.
NFU vice president Tom Bradshaw said the union welcomed the government’s new announcement, but said more solution would be needed for ‘wider labour needs’.
He said: “The NFU has worked with the wider industry to help evidence the needs of the sector and we look forward to working with government on applying the scheme for poultry and, in particular, access for smaller producers.
“We will also continue to work with government to find solutions for the wider labour needs, including trained and able butchers for pork production to deal with the increasingly serious build-up of pigs on farm and the risk of welfare issues.”
The organisations behind this week’s letter called for measures including a 12-month Covid Recovery Visa which they say would enable the supply chain to recruit critical roles as a short-term response to labour shortages.
Government commitment is also needed to a ‘revised and expanded’ Seasonal Worker Scheme for UK horticulture, to ensure it is flexible and large enough to meet workforce needs.
Finally, the groups urge the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the impact of ending free movement on the food and farming sector, in the same way it is doing for adult social care.