A firm that supplies fresh produce to major supermarkets is offering £62,000 a year to fruit pickers in a bid to manage a severe shortage of staff.
T H Clements and Son Ltd’s field is on the hunt for ‘operatives’ to work all year round.
It's recruiting fruit and vegetable pickers who will be paid £30-per-hour - which works out at £240-per-day or £1,200-per-week.
The pay boost comes after job site Indeed this week said the number of recruiters that have boosted their salaries to help plug staff shortages is up 75%.
T H Clements and Son Ltd's hourly rate equates to £4,800 a month, or an annual salary of £62,400.
Farms and fresh produce companies say they are severely down on staff due to Covid and Brexit, which, combined, have imposed new restrictions on migrant workers who want to travel to the UK for work.
T H Clements and Son Ltd, based in Boston, Lincs posted one job advert that read: “We are looking for Field Operatives to harvest our Cabbages.
“Excellent piecework rates with potential to earn up to £30 per hour and all year round work available.”
Another similar one added: “We are looking for Field Operatives to harvest our Broccoli.
“Excellent piecework rates with potential to earn up to £30 per hour and all year round work available.”
Robert Newbery, regional director of the National Farmers’ Union, said: "Brexit is certainly having an impact.
“The people that could move freely within Europe before now can't.”
It comes after Iceland boss Richard Walker warned Brits not to panic-buy as supermarkets struggle to fill shelves due to a lack of delivery drivers.
His message was echoed by Downing Street, who urged Brits not to stockpile after food production delays and fuel rationing fears rocked consumers.
