KENT, England — Since Britain’s departure from the European Union, the country’s agricultural sector has adapted to shifting labor dynamics by increasingly relying on seasonal workers from Central Asia to meet its harvesting needs. Workers from countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are now a common sight on farms across southern England, filling gaps left by the reduction of Eastern European labor following Brexit.
Shukrat Djuraev, a 44-year-old seasonal worker from Bukhara, Uzbekistan, is among those who have traveled more than 3,000 miles to work on farms like Homefield Farm in Kent. Djuraev and thousands of others are admitted under six-month visa programs designed to address labor shortages that intensified after the UK restricted the rights of EU citizens to work in the country. As of 2023, Britain issued over 32,000 such visas, with Kyrgyzstan accounting for nearly a quarter of recipients, followed by Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
Before Brexit, a significant portion of seasonal labor came from Eastern European countries. However, after the referendum in 2016 and the subsequent exit of the UK from the EU, many workers from that region lost the automatic right to work in Britain. This has contributed to a pronounced shift, with British recruiters now seeking labor from more distant, lower-wage Central Asian countries, many of whose workers previously sought employment in Russia. The outbreak of war in Ukraine further disrupted these traditional migration patterns.
Farm operators say their businesses depend heavily on these seasonal workers. Tim Chambers, chief executive of WB Chambers, which operates Homefield Farm and other farms in Kent, said that without this labor supply, the business would be unsustainable. Chambers noted a dramatic decline in domestic farm laborers, citing inflexible welfare systems and difficulties in obtaining credit or mortgages without permanent year-round employment as major deterrents for local workers.
Seasonal workers from Central Asia receive the minimum wage rate of £12.71 ($16.80) per hour and are guaranteed 32 hours of work per week, with some earning approximately £700 ($927) weekly. By comparison, average monthly wages in Kyrgyzstan are roughly £300 ($397). For many, the earnings help improve their living standards significantly; Mr. Djuraev, for instance, credits his wages with enabling him to buy an apartment back home. Yet accommodation for workers often remains basic, with shared mobile homes housing multiple employees.
While some workers describe their experiences positively, charities and advocacy groups raise serious concerns about exploitation within the seasonal labor program. The limited length of six-month visas and employer-specific work permits restrict workers’ ability to report mistreatment or unsafe conditions, effectively silencing many. Daniyar Abdrakhmanov, a Kazakh former farm worker in Northern Ireland, highlighted the vulnerability of newcomers unfamiliar with the language and legal protections. The Work Rights Center reports widespread, systemic abuses tied to the visa scheme that binds workers to single employers with little recourse.
Despite these challenges, many Central Asians view seasonal work in Britain as a valuable opportunity. Orozbek Saipidin, from Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region, described initial hardships but emphasized the financial benefits and new perspectives gained. He planned to return to work at a farm in Cornwall, southwestern England, this spring.
On farms like Ragstone Ridge vineyard in Kent, employers acknowledge the logistical complexities, including language barriers; Russian—a common lingua franca in Central Asia—is frequently spoken among workers, often requiring managers to rely on demonstration rather than verbal instruction.
The transformation in labor sourcing reflects the broader consequences of Brexit on Britain’s agricultural sector. “It’s just the way things are now,” said David Catt of Ragstone Ridge. “When we were in Europe, it was so easy because labor could come and go as it suited.” With migration policies now more restrictive and labor markets more fragmented, the industry continues to adjust to new realities on the ground.