In May 2018, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) launched a work permit scheme for the meat, dairy and horticulture sectors.

The pilot quota-based scheme allows workers from non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) countries to access employment opportunities.

There was a quota of 250 permits for meat factory workers initially but this was quickly filled and more permits were made available.

However, the 1,500 permits available have now been used.

“I don’t know where the industry would be without those permits,” said David Lyons, HR manager with Dawn Meats.

“We have recruited from Brazil predominantly, and also the Ukraine. That’s based on skillset and numbers.

“It’s difficult to attract those from eastern Europe as their economies are prospering. A number of our long-standing employees from eastern Europe have actually returned home.”

Some 975 permits granted for meat operatives have been for Brazilian citizens, compared with 301 from Ukraine and 105 from China.

Of the 150 permits made available for dairy workers, 86 (57%) have been granted. To date, a total of 1,500 permits have made available to meat processing operatives; 500 to the horticulture sector and 150 to dairy farm assistants.

In July 2019, a further quota of 300 permits for meat deboners were made available.

“The application of a quota-based system is to ensure that in the longer-term, strategies are put in place to source labour supply from both the domestic and European labour markets and to invest in innovative technologies for the sector,” a spokesperson from the DBEI said.