More migrant workers claim UK farm exploitation

The number of foreign workers seeking help over claims of exploitation, bullying, underpayment and poor living conditions on UK farms significantly increased last year, the BBC has learned. Nearly 700 foreign seasonal agricultural labourers complained to the Worker Support Centre (WSC) charity in 2024 they were being treated unfairly by farmers who had brought them over to work, compared to just over 400 in 2023. One former fruit picker told the BBC more must be done to protect migrants from being treated like slaves. The company said Ms Casimiro worked at Hayford for 11 days before leaving with a free air ticket home, and her claims were based on a "short-lived, snapshot, atypical experience". " She added that the company took any allegations of misconduct "very seriously" and had "co-operated fully with investigations by the GLAA". Haygrove is "committed to fair employment practices and the wellbeing of all our workers", she said.