LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The bosses of Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons havesaid Britain's food and supermarket sector will need continuedaccess to EU migrant labour after the country leaves theEuropean Union.
The heads of companies which employ 925,000 people inBritain's food industry wrote to The Times on Thursday to callon the government to ensure tariff-free access to the EU singlemarket was maintained after Brexit, including access to labour.
"The sector needs access to EU and non-EU seasonal andpermanent labour, alongside assurances that EU workers alreadyworking permanently in the UK are allowed to remain," said thebosses of 75 companies in a letter.
"This access to labour is essential as it underpins the UKfood chain's timely delivery of high-quality, affordable food toconsumers."
British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will triggerthe two-year negotiation process for leaving the bloc before theend of March, but it is not clear what sort of deal the twosides will strike over trade and the movement of people.
Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe put his name to theletter alongside other retail bosses, farming union bosses andthe chief executives of cereal manufacturer Weetabix and cheeseand butter maker Dairy Crest. (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)