Glastonbury responds to criticisms over worker conditions at 2017 event

Glastonbury Festival has responded to a report which suggested it let hundreds of European workers go after just two days working on Worthy Farm at this year’s event.

A report in The Independent revealed that the festival hired the workers on zero hours contracts before letting them go prematurely after it was revealed there was insufficient work available.

The report states: “Organisers were accused of taking advantage of some 700 people who were signed up as litter pickers expecting two weeks of paid employment after the acts and festival-goers had gone home, only to leave some three quarters stranded and out of pocket in the Somerset countryside.”

Simon Kadlcak from the Czech Republic spoke to The Independent, saying: “We found out quite soon that there was not as much garbage as usual, so there was less work.

“Rumours were being spread about what would happen and there was no proper information.”

The festival have now responded to the accusations in a statement. They say: “In response to recent stories in the media, we would like to state that Glastonbury festival’s post-event litter picking team are all given temporary worker agreements for the duration of the clean-up.

“As well as being paid, they are provided with free meals and access to on-site facilities. The length of the clean-up varies considerably from year to year, based largely upon the weather conditions before, during and after the festival.
“This is something the litter pickers - many of whom return year after year - are made aware of in their worker agreements (which assure them of a minimum of eight hours’ work).

“This year was an unusually dry one for Glastonbury. That, coupled with a fantastic effort from festival goers in taking their belongings home, meant that the bulk of the litter picking work was completed after 2.5 days (in 2016, a very wet year, the equivalent period was around 10 days).

“All but a core crew of litter pickers were advised that there was no further work available after Friday (June 30). Those who weren’t able to leave the site over the weekend were given further meals, plus assistance with travel to nearby towns with public transport links.

“We’d like to thank the litter pickers for their work on the clean-up, which was - as always - hugely valued by the festival.”

Read the report on The Independent here.