Call for more support for seasonal contract workers in Fife

The North East Fife MP stood up for local seasonal workers in the Parliament, taking the difficult situation facing golf caddies, lifeguards and caravan park staff to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Seasonal contract workers have been left in limbo since obtaining contracts of employment for the summer, as they have not been able to be furloughed since the initiation of the government lockdown.

Workers who had contracts, many of agreed months in advance, now face no income and no access to the existing support. Fundraising for some golf caddies in St Andrews is underway to support them through the lockdown but there is no existing state support they can count upon if this is their first season in work.

Ms Chamberlain raised her concerns with Mr Sunak: “Rather than having them rely on charity, what support can the Chancellor offer to the seasonal workforce this year so that they can actually return next year?”

Unsatisfied with his response, Ms Chamberlain has written to him asking for clarity to establish what support is available to seasonal workers.

She said: “The specific sort of cases I was referring to is workers who were due to start a contract in spring or summers. These people find themselves in a situation where their contracts have fallen through – but because they did not start in time for the furlough deadline, they are not eligible for support.”