seasonal worker scheme
The SWP program was initiated in 2019 as a trial run, initially managed by two operators. Subsequently, the Home Office decided to prolong the program through 2021, increasing the allocation of work permits to 30,000 and expanding the number of scheme Operators to four. Furthermore, it was extended once again at the close of 2022, introducing new operators and boosting the quota of visas available for the year 2023.
Within this program, the operators function as sponsors within the immigration framework (specifically, tier 5). The program is designed to facilitate the recruitment of workers for the edible horticultural sector, which includes:
– Protected Vegetables (cultivated in greenhouses)
– Field Vegetables (outdoor production, including herbs, leafy salads, and potatoes)
– Soft Fruits (both outdoor and covered cultivation)
– Top Fruits
– Vines and Bines (hops and grapes)
– Mushrooms
Under this scheme, the visa duration is limited to a maximum of 6 months, and individuals can only utilize this visa to enter the UK once within a 12-month period, with a mandatory 6-month gap between visa usage.
The activities covered by this Pilot program include:
– Picker: Manual harvesting of crops, which may involve rig work or the use of hand tools.
– Crop maintenance and husbandry: Tasks such as planting, weeding, de-leafing, pruning, bud rubbing, thinning, tying down, and any activities related to crop health.
– Tunnel worker: Responsibilities encompass the construction and maintenance of crop protection structures, venting systems, and preparations for growing areas, tabletop systems, raised beds, as well as the installation and removal of growing media and dismantling of structures.
– Irrigation worker: Responsibilities include the installation and maintenance of irrigation systems.
– Packhouse worker: Tasks involve the packing and processing of crops, including labeling, sorting, grading, and loading.
– Tractor driving: Seasonal requirements for primary production, which may include tasks like mowing, spraying, harvesting, and carting.
– Seasonal Supervisor: Responsibilities include leading teams to ensure efficiency, providing training, and motivating workers.
If you would like to obtain further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Information for Workers
Wages
You will receive your first wages around 7-14 days after you start work. In the UK, every employer is required to pay their employees at least a specified minimum wage. Under UK law, all participants of the SWS will be paid no less than £10.42 per hour. Check the GLAA website for the most up to date information www.gla.gov.uk/i-am-a/i-am-worker/your-rights
Often your pay will be calculated by the piecework method where the crop you pick is weighed or counted and you are paid for each kilogram or box. Therefore, the harder the work the more you will be paid. On this system, most workers earn more than the minimum rate per hour. For more information visit www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-different-types-work/paid-per-task-or-piece-of-work-done
Further advice for agricultural workers can be found here www.gov.uk/agricultural-workers-rights/pay-and-overtime
Accommodation charges
Accommodation charges vary across farms dependent on the wage rates paid however they all need to comply with the Accommodation Offset regulations which can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/am-i-getting-minimum-wage. This simple online calculator will tell you if the amount you are paying for accommodation is in line with the regulations. If you find that your wages do not meet the regulations, please report this to HOPS as soon as possible and we will support you.
Pay slips
You will receive a payslip on or before payday. It is important you keep these along with a record of your work.
Deductions from wages
Deductions you should expect to be made from your wages may include:
· National Insurance
· Income Tax Contribution
· Pension
· Accommodation costs
Holidays
You will be paid for holiday you have accrued only. Your maximum entitlement to paid holiday is 5.6 weeks per year. Requested time off will be authorised by your manager or supervisor to fit around work requirements.
Worker rights and protection
Employment rights
You are entitled to certain employment rights including:
· National Minimum Wage/Government Stated Minimum Wage for SWS participants
· Protection against unlawful deductions from wages
· Statutory minimum level of paid holiday
· Statutory minimum level of rest breaks
· To not work more than 48 hours per week (option to opt out)
· Protection against unlawful discrimination
· Protection for “whistleblowing” (reporting wrongdoing in the workplace)
· Pension (you will be auto-enrolled after 3 months of work)
· To not be treated less favourably if you work part-time
Please speak with your KITE representative for other entitlements e.g. Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay.
Health and safety
You are entitled to work in environments where risks to your health and safety are properly controlled. This is the responsibility of your employer. It is your responsibility to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work. It is your responsibility to follow Health and Safety rules set out by your employer.
If you have concerns at any time, contact your manager/supervisor or KITE representative.
Data protection
We are committed to upholding government regulations and maintaining the trust and confidence of our workers. We only collect personal data is order to provide recruitment services. All information is held in a secure cloud based platform. We will hold your data for legal business purposes for a period of up to five years.
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
· Access to data
· Correction to data
· A copy of your data to be transferred to another organisation
· Ask for your data to be deleted
To request any of the above you must contact us immediately.
Working time regulations
The Working Time Regulations implement the European Working Time Directive which provides workers with fundamental rights and decision:
A worker can only be required to work up to a limit of 48 hours a week. An individual may agree to work more than 48 hours per week. If so, he or she should sign an opt-out agreement, which they can cancel usually with 7 days’ notice or 3 months depending on employer contract.
Employers cannot force a work to sign an opt-out and you cannot be dismissed for refusing to sign one.
Accommodation
Accommodation provided from farms can range from static caravans (most popular) to cottages to hostels. These will all be detailed on the website. You should expect some communal facilities. In most cases, accommodation is single-sex and therefore the provision for cohabitating couples is not always possible.
Provisions in the accommodation will be detailed on the website.
Kite will visit each farm to ensure the accommodation provided is of a suitable standard for our workers. This includes inspections to ensure standards of safety are met by employers.
You may be asked to pay for wilful damage to the accommodation or cleaning charges if it is left in a particularly dirty condition.
Privacy Policy
The Government committed to updating and strengthening UK data protection laws through a new Data protection Bill which came into force on 25 May 2018.
Kite Business Solutions are committed to upholding the new regulations and maintaining the trust and confidence of our clients. We only collect personal data about you in order to provide recruitment services. We will not collect any personal data from you that we do not need.
Use of Personal Information
All details provided by our users and partner organisations, via the website will be used for the administration of recruitment and employee management.
We may share aggregated demographic information with our partner organisations. This will be in an anonymised format and not linked to any personal information that can identify any individual person.
When your personal information is added onto the website, you agree to use of the data across the website. Personal details requested are listed on the website and only used and shared with businesses you are or have been engaged with.
All information contained on the website may be shared with:
-The Home Office (Including UK Visas and Immigration and the Police Service)
-Any other Government department with an interest in the scheme
-KITE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS auditing bodies (currently DB Compliance, Clearview)
-All businesses directly engaged within the website
Participants may ask for a copy of the information that we keep about you. You are entitled to view, amend or delete the personal information that we hold. If you wish to do this, you should write to us immediately – by emailing [email protected] (the designated person responsible for data protection compliance) or writing to KITE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, 89 Derby Road, NG1 5BB. You will need to supply your worker ID number and date of birth on any correspondence. Subject access requests will be dealt with within one month. No charge will be made for subject access requests.
We will retain your data for legal business purposes for a period of up to five years; unless a request is received in writing to delete or destroy this information.
If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are not processing your personal data in accordance with the law, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The Website
The Kite Business Solutions website takes a proactive approach to user privacy and ensures the necessary steps are taken to protect the privacy of its users throughout their visiting experience. This website complies with all UK national laws and requirements for user privacy.
Disclosure of Information
Personal details will only be used by businesses using the website and shared with the parties recorded above. We will NOT disclose this information to anyone else without first obtaining permission.
Mailing addresses and email addresses
Kite Business Solutions will not send out unwanted mail, junk mail or email messages, nor knowingly pass addresses or email addresses to any third party engaged in such activities. Furthermore, we take every precaution to minimise the risk of computer viruses using stored email address lists to send unsolicited emails.
Get in Touch
Ready to take your business to new heights? Get in touch with Kite Business Solutions today. Our expert team is here to provide you with tailored solutions that will drive your success.