Travel rules have been adjusted to allow migrant workers working on turkey farms to keep working during their 14 day quarantine. From 04:00 on Tuesday workers arriving in the uk to help turkey farmers harvest their birds will be allowed work to ensure that everyone can still put a turkey on there Christmas table despite covid-19 restrictions.

 

As the UK has a shortage of workers with the skills required to handle and slaughter poultry, it is paramount that farmers have access to mainly Eastern European workers which can keep production at its usual level. The British Poultry Council appealed to the government and a decision was reached with the Department for Transport, the Department of Health and social care and Public Health England (PHE), with the conclusion being that workers will work and live within a selected bubble throughout the duration of their stay in order to allow them to work throughout their 14 day quarantine. 

 

Grant Shapps, the Transport secretary said “Christmas dinner is the highlight of the year for many families and this year it will be particularly significant.” He later added that the new measures will ensure that farmers can “keep up with the Christmas demand”. 

 

Back in March, when turkey farmers were hatching their birds, many decided that due to the unprecedented circumstances that they would hatch fewer or smaller birds in an attempt to keep costs low and secure their survival when many businesses up and down the UK were struggling to stay afloat. A few businesses are innovating and selling “half turkeys” - a regular turkey cut in half to account for those who will not gather in large groups at Christmas. Furthermore, many farmers have been inundated with requests and orders for smaller birds, leading some turkey farmers to consider slaughtering their flocks earlier or at a smaller size to meet customer requests. The upmarket food manufacturer Cook has seen a huge surge in its demand for its “turkeys for two” and its other smaller meals as supposed to its larger options, with sales already being up 20% on last years sales.

 

There is no doubt that coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on most of what we in the UK consider normal, with Halloween festivities being almost non-existent and many businesses closing due to low sales. Many Christmas celebrations still lie in jeopardy, but we can be optimistic that our Christmas dinners are here to stay and that workers coming to the UK to assist in the preparation of Christmas turkeys will be allowed to do their job and ultimately play a major part in putting turkeys on our Christmas tables.