By Dave Lord

NUMEROUS SEASONAL berry workers who flocked to Tayside from new European Union countries are being forced to sleep rough.

North Tayside MP Pete Wishart yesterday claimed hundreds of foreign youngsters—some of whom speak little or no English—are roaming the area, desperate for any type of work.

“Young people from the new EU countries have been arriving in large numbers in search of work only to find no employment available,” he said.

“Being members of the EU these young people are now entitled to freedom of movement without a visa.

“However, due to the lack of employment some have found themselves sleeping rough and are desperate for any type of work.”

Mr Wishart insists more should have been done to avert the problem.

“These young people have simply taken the opportunity of the right of free travel under EU law and have come to Tayside looking for seasonal work,” he said.

“Unfortunately that work does not exist as most berry farms employ their seasonal staff through foreign-based recruitment agencies.

“What has happened is that these young people have found themselves penniless, frustrated and in many cases without a roof over their heads. Many also have difficulties with English.

“What I cannot understand is why this was not anticipated and acted upon,” Mr Wishart continued.

“I warned at the beginning of the berry-picking season that there were issues regarding seasonal workers from eastern Europe who would now be in a different category by virtue of them being EU citizens.”

The MP called for immediate action to be taken in a bid to alleviate the situation.

“What has to be put in place is a support mechanism that can offer advice and help for these young people,” he said.

“We must ensure that they are not enduring any unnecessary hardship and help them to find seasonal work opportunities all over Scotland.”

Mr Wishart pledged to do all he could to ensure future problems are minimised.

“I will now be writing to the Home Office to ask what provision was made to prepare for such a situation. I am also writing to Perth and Kinross Council about what they can do locally to ensure no unnecessary hardship is experienced.”