Supporting Fruit Pickers and Seasonal Agricultural Workers
Seasonal farm work, including fruit and vegetable picking, is essential—but too often, the people doing it are underpaid, overworked, and unprotected.
Whether you’re a migrant worker, student, or British national, you have the right to be treated fairly, paid properly, and kept safe at work. At STN Women’s Lives Matters, we offer advice, support, and advocacy to agricultural workers facing poor treatment, abuse, or exploitation.
Who Are Fruit Pickers?
Fruit pickers and seasonal farm workers are employed—usually short-term or on zero-hour contracts—to harvest crops across the UK. Many are migrants recruited through seasonal worker schemes or agencies.
Jobs often include:
- Picking, sorting, and packing fruit and vegetables
- Working long hours outdoors, sometimes in extreme weather
- Living in employer-provided accommodation
Common Issues Faced by Farm Workers
Despite doing vital work, many agricultural workers experience:
- Low or unpaid wages
- Excessive working hours with no breaks or overtime pay
- Unsafe or overcrowded accommodation
- Withheld passports or documents
- Verbal or physical abuse
- Sexual harassment
- Threats of deportation
- Lack of written contracts or payslips
Many are unsure of their rights—or too afraid to speak out.
“We worked 14-hour days with no breaks. When we asked for a day off, they said we’d lose our place to sleep.”
— Anonymous fruit picker, Kent
Exploitation and Modern Slavery
Some workers, especially those recruited from abroad, may be victims of labour exploitation or modern slavery. If someone is:
- Controlling your documents or money
- Forcing you to work without rest
- Threatening you or your family
- Isolating you from help
…you may be experiencing modern slavery. This is a crime, and you have the right to support—no matter your immigration status.
Your Rights as a Worker in the UK
All workers, including migrants, have legal rights:
- Minimum wage: £11.44/hour (from April 2024) for over 21s
- Safe working conditions
- Written contract in a language you understand
- Payslips showing your earnings and deductions
- Freedom to leave your job
- Protection from discrimination and abuse
- Sick pay and rest breaks
If your employer breaks these rules, they are in violation of the law.
How We Can Help
At STN Women’s Lives Matters, we can:
- Advise you on your rights
- Help you report abuse confidentially
- Connect you with legal or immigration support
- Support you if you are at risk of modern slavery
- Refer you to shelters or emergency housing
- Provide interpreters and translated resources
- Help you access medical care and counselling
Get Help
You do not have to face this alone.
- Modern Slavery Helpline (24/7): 08000 121 700
- Citizens Advice (free legal and employment advice): 0800 144 8848
All advice is free, confidential, and available in many languages.
Know Your Worth
You deserve dignity, fair pay, and safety—regardless of where you come from or what kind of job you do.
If you’re unsure about your rights, worried about a friend, or facing abuse at work, reach out. We’re here to listen and to act.