SCOTLAND'S red meat sector needs access to skilled labour, whether it be domestic or migrant, or it will struggle to play its part in Scotland's ambitious targets for food and drink export growth.

With politicians of all persuasions meeting the farming public at the Royal Highland Show, Quality Meat Scotland chose this week to launch its "Importance of Migrant Labour to Scottish Red Meat Industry" briefing document, which comprehensively spikes the populist suggestion that meat sector jobs vacated by EU nationals be filled by the domestic unemployed.

Crucially, the QMS paper highlights the disparity between the official classification of 'unskilled' roles, and the practical importance of experienced and committed labour to an industry working on low single-digit net profit margins.

“Where non-UK labour is of fundamental importance to the red meat supply chain is in the slaughter and processing sector," said QMS head of economics services Stuart Ashworth. "Not only is non-UK labour important on the factory floor but it is also key in respect of veterinary inspection.

“Without access to skilled domestic or migrant labour the ability of the Scottish red meat sector to contribute to the growth targets set by the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership in its Ambition 2030 strategy published in spring 2017 will be compromised.”

A recent survey of members of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers showed a significant dependence on migrant labour, where a significant number of non-UK employees have long ago progressed to skilled supervisory and management roles.

The SAMW survey showed that 52% of the unskilled workforce, 44% of the skilled workforce and 16% of supervisory and management staff were currently non-UK nationals, amounting to just over 1500 meat sector employees.

QMS also highlighted the importance migrants in the statutory food safety inspections and monitoring carried out in Scottish abattoirs, with Food Standards Scotland reporting that no less than 98% of their official at-slaughter veterinarians are non-UK nationals.

Mr Ashworth also noted that, aside from their lack of on-the-job experience, the arguments in favour of employing more locals did not take account of the fact that many meat processing businesses are located in areas with unemployment levels below the national average – Aberdeenshire, Moray, Dumfries and Galloway, Perth and Kinross, Angus and Stirling.

“Abattoirs in these regions would account for some 70% of the Scottish cattle and pig throughput and 90% of the Scottish sheep throughput," he pointed out, stressing the need for continuity of staffing if serious supply chain disruption was to be avoided.

Although Brexit has yet to actually happen, the QMS report noted that the the uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the EU has already led to a higher rate of turnover among migrant labour than was previously the case: “The sector therefore has two concerns in respect of non-UK labour – one being current established employees leaving and the second a reduction in those willing to come to the UK,” said Mr Ashworth.