FAQ

The UK Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) was developed by the British Home Office in 1946. It ceased to operate in 2008 for non-EU countries, but continued to exist only for applicants from Romania and Bulgaria until the end of 2013. Starting in 2014, this program was completely closed due to the fact that the new countries that joined the EU (namely Romania and Bulgaria) received the right to work in the UK freely without any programs or permits.
But the UK is leaving the EU in 2019, and the British government has decided to renew this program for non-EU countries. The program is designed to help British farmers during the peak harvest season and cover labor shortages for applicants from countries outside the European Union aged 18 years or older.

• Citizens aged 18 (at the time of application);
• Availability of a foreign passport, which must be valid for another 1 one year after the valid UK visa cut-off date;
• Good physical shape, ability to withstand manual physical work in the field under different weather conditions;
• Be motivated and positive about physical work 40-60 hours per week; have realistic earnings expectations and understand that working hours depend on the season, weather, harvest;
• No immigration intentions in the UK, be law-abiding, intend to work on a farm program;
• No problems with the immigration laws of the UK and other countries (no deportations, arrests, problems with the law, illegal stay in countries without a visa);
• No criminal record or any problems with the law;
• No health problems and alcohol and/or drug addiction.

Work permit in the UK Seasonal Workers Scheme operates through the UK work permit system. The maximum period of stay in the country is Seasonal Workers Scheme – no more than 6 months during the calendar year. Workers can come to the country at any time of the year and work on farms. However, trips are organized according to the seasons of a particular farm. The Sponsorship Certificate is an official permit to work on a work visa TIER 5 - SEASONAL WORKER, granting the right to the employee to participate in the program only in the farm specified in this Certificate (work permit) and only within the time frame specified in this permit. This is NOT a general work permit that will allow you to work anywhere else (restaurant, hotel). You cannot work on another farm. If violations of the above rules are detected, workers will be immediately deported from the country. The sponsorship certificate cannot be valid for another person. The duration of the work permit is no more than 6 months. To re-participate in the program, you must maintain a corridor of 180 days from the end date of the seasonal worker's previous work visa.

Visa regime and length of stay in the UK Start date of visa for workers Seasonal Workers Scheme coincides with the start date of your farm contract and work permit. Neither the firm nor the Agent will be liable if a worker is refused a visa by the British Consulate in your country. A worker may NOT remain in the UK for longer than the period stated on his or her visa. Those who are in the UK illegally face deportation from the country. A seasonal worker visa cannot be extended. It is NOT POSSIBLE to change your visa type.

According to current UK legislation, hourly rates are presented at this link https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates. This minimum will be received by all UK-based workers under the scheme Seasonal Workers Scheme. Most farms pay 11,44 pounds per hour to all workers aged 18-20 years inclusive.

But on many farms there is piecework wages (per chord) - this is when you will be paid for the amount of harvest collected. With piecework payment you can earn much more.

During the first two weeks of being on the farm, all workers will be given a probationary period (which may vary from farm to farm) - a training period during which you must prove your ability to perform certain tasks. type of work. This means proving not only the physical ability to do the job, but also meeting the strict harvesting standards required and understanding what you are doing. You must clearly understand all standards, explained collection rules and comply with them. Please do not waste a single day of this period, try to adapt to work as quickly as possible, concentrate on it.

Working in the fields should not be perceived as an interesting trip to the UK during the holidays. This is a serious work experience. Prove that workers from your country are the best, then Seasonal Workers Scheme will continue to exist and you will be able to travel to the UK many more times.

If all work on a farm is paid hourly, you will have to complete the quota and do quick work. You must understand and accept the ethics of the farm where you are placed to work. You cannot work slowly if you are paid hourly; you can be kicked out of the farm if they notice that you are sitting idle, sleeping, talking a lot, concentrating on your smartphone, smoking, if you are lazy to work well and quickly, etc. IT IS VERY SERIOUS! The employee will be expected to be able to work a minimum of 39 hours per week. Workers can expect a minimum of 39 hours per week, but if there is a problem with the clock due to bad weather, lack of orders or crop problem, then you will be given a minimum of 20 hours per week for 4 weeks.

• Strawberry/raspberry. Season: April – October. Payment: mostly piecework (the more you collected, the more you earned).
• Construction of tunnels and polyethylene greenhouses where berries are grown. Season: from November to the end of March. Payment is hourly, but sometimes piecework, depending on the volume of work performed.
• Vegetables/salads. Season: April/May - October, November. Payment is mainly piecework, work in any weather in the field.
• Tomatoes. Season: April – November. Payment is the same as at salad farms.
• Flowers. Season: April - September/October. Payment is the same as on salad farms.
• Hops/Apples. Season: end of August, September – October. Payment is the same as on salad farms.
• Potatoes. Season: September – October. Pay is generally hourly.

• International passport with work visa Tier 5 - SEASONAL WORKER, air ticket
• Printed agreement with the farm and printed information about the farm, which contains the address of the farm and instructions on how to get there (link to the document in the Account).
• Printed documents for health insurance (Be sure to print!)
• Printed Key Worker Certificate
• Printed Welcome Letter
• Your signed medical declaration (Can be saved in your smartphone)
• Printed agreement with the Agent (CSPA) (Can be saved in your smartphone)
• Workers must take money with them GBP200 depending on location. Depending on the pay period (weekly, every two weeks, every month), you need to take more money if the pay period is once a month. It is advisable that workers already bring English pounds with them (buy English pounds in your home country, NOT Scottish ones), because exchanging pounds in the UK is very expensive.
• Waterproof jacket and trousers.
• If you have worked on farms in previous UK seasons under this scheme and you have a tax form P45, take it with you too. If you don’t know what it is, or you don’t have it, DO NOT ask us where to get it or what it is.
• Work clothes.

Here are the documents you need to pass this control:

• Passport with visa
• Farm information and contract with the Farm
• Printed documents for health insurance (available in CSPA employee account)

Health and Safety
When working on a farm, you must comply with the Health and Safety regulations - Health and Safety. This provision protects the worker from accidents at work, but also requires him to comply with strict hygiene and safety rules. The employer is responsible for ensuring the safety of its employees while performing work. The farmer is obliged to provide safety instructions to workers when performing work. Be careful if tractors and other equipment are used on the farm! You can never be sure that the driver can see you! Strictly follow the following rules:

• Never touch any gas appliances and if they are damaged, notify the farmer immediately.
• Never remove batteries from fire alarm devices, as this may endanger your life and the lives of others.
• Never touch electrical wiring when they come into contact with water, especially in the shower, or when the washing machine is turned on.
• Never remove fire blankets from your home or kitchen areas, as someone may urgently need them during a possible fire. It is also not allowed to bring additional heaters into the rooms without the farmer's permission. Electric heaters waste a lot of electricity, which can cause a fire or malfunction of the electrical system in general.
• Remember, if you are not purchasing new electric heaters, you must check them for suitability. Unsuitable heaters are the main cause of fire.
• Never block emergency exits from the premises.
• Be sure you know where to go in case of emergency.

Staying illegally in the UK after your visa has expired is strictly prohibited! What rights might an illegal immigrant have or what future might he have? If a person is seriously ill, who will need him in a foreign country? This program was opened only on the basis that it is non-immigrant and all workers return home after the program. You need to understand that in violation of UK law and visa regulations, you are making your next trips to this country and other EU countries impossible. This program provides the opportunity to participate in it several times, and there is no point in violating anything so as not to subsequently take advantage of this right to re-participate in the program.