Short answer
When designing business models or supply chains, anticipate and plan for potential disruptions caused by policy changes affecting labour availability and worker rights.
- Field
- Commercial Production
- Source
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (2015)
- Method
- Policy review and critical analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Ending temporary migration programmes for agricultural workers can lead to increased labour market shortages, a loss of remittances and skills, and a rise in irregular migration and exploitation. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University). Using Policy review and critical analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing business models or supply chains, anticipate and plan for potential disruptions caused by policy changes affecting labour availability and worker rights.
Termination of Agricultural Worker Schemes Exacerbates Labour Shortages and Exploitation
Ending temporary migration programmes for agricultural workers can lead to increased labour market shortages, a loss of remittances and skills, and a rise in irregular migration and exploitation.
Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Closure of SAWS leads to a 'multiple loss' scenario.
- 02Potential for increased permanent immigration and labour market shortages.
- 03Loss of remittances and skills transfer from migrant workers.
- 04Risk of increased irregular migration and exploitation of workers.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing business models or supply chains, anticipate and plan for potential disruptions caused by policy changes affecting labour availability and worker rights.
How to apply
When assessing the viability of a product or service that relies on a specific labour force, research the stability and potential policy changes affecting that labour source.
Project actions
- 01When researching a product or service, consider the 'human element' of the supply chain and how policies might affect it.
- 02Think about the ethical implications of your design choices on different groups of people.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a critical analysis of policy decisions.
- +Highlights potential negative consequences often overlooked.
Limitations
The findings are specific to the UK's SAWS and may not apply to all countries or all types of temporary worker schemes.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability and validity depend on the accuracy of the policy analysis and the logical coherence of the arguments presented regarding potential future impacts.
Think critically
How might a design solution proactively address potential labour shortages caused by policy changes, rather than simply reacting to them?
Design Principles
"Proactive risk assessment and mitigation in labour-dependent systems."
This highlights the complex economic and social consequences of policy decisions regarding labour mobility. Designers and businesses operating in sectors reliant on seasonal labour must consider the broader implications of such policy shifts on supply chains and workforce availability.
What This Means for Your Design
Ending programs that bring in seasonal farm workers can cause problems like not having enough workers for farms, losing money sent home by workers, and making workers more likely to be treated unfairly.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for robust labour force planning in your design project.
- 2.Discuss the potential socio-economic impacts of your design decisions, especially if they rely on specific labour pools.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The termination of temporary worker schemes, such as the UK's Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), can lead to significant labour shortages and increased exploitation of workers. This highlights the importance of considering the socio-economic impacts of policy decisions on supply chains and the need for robust labour force planning in design projects.
Source
Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University)
Closing the seasonal agricultural workers scheme:a triple loss
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about termination of agricultural worker schemes exacerbates labour shortages and exploitation?
- When designing business models or supply chains, anticipate and plan for potential disruptions caused by policy changes affecting labour availability and worker rights. Evidence: Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (2015).
- Why does "Termination of Agricultural Worker Schemes Exacerbates Labour Shortages and Exploitation" matter for design?
- This highlights the complex economic and social consequences of policy decisions regarding labour mobility. Designers and businesses operating in sectors reliant on seasonal labour must consider the broader implications of such policy shifts on supply chains and workforce availability.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing business models or supply chains, anticipate and plan for potential disruptions caused by policy changes affecting labour availability and worker rights.
- What were the main findings?
- Closure of SAWS leads to a 'multiple loss' scenario.. Potential for increased permanent immigration and labour market shortages.. Loss of remittances and skills transfer from migrant workers.. Risk of increased irregular migration and exploitation of workers.
- What research method was used?
- Policy review and critical analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When assessing the viability of a product or service that relies on a specific labour force, research the stability and potential policy changes affecting that labour source.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on the UK's SAWS and may not be directly generalizable to all temporary migration programmes or all agricultural sectors globally.