Migrant agricultural workers have held a protest outside the Home Office in London to demand an end to exploitation of overseas workers on UK farms.

This was the first time migrant farm workers, who arrive in the UK as part of the Seasonal Worker Scheme, have organised a protest in the capital.

The rally was also attended by various farming and workers rights organisations, including the Landworkers’ Alliance, Land In Our Names and SALT Union.

In July 2023, after claims of wage theft, discrimination and health and safety concerns, 88 seasonal workers took strike action at Redbank Farm in Herefordshire.

A group of these, who are organising as ‘Justice Is Not Seasonal’, are taking the farm's owner, Haygrove, to court over alleged harassment and race discrimination.

The workers also allege unlawful deductions of wages and whistleblowing victimisation after raising health and safety concerns.

In order to bring their campaign to light, they held a demonstration outside the Home Office today (24 January) to demand justice for migrant workers who come to work on UK farms…

Catherine McAndrew, of the alliance, said: “We are here to hear from these workers, to hear their experiences, to end the silencing of the people who pick our food…