SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SCHEME

SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

Students participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) have an obligation to work within the terms of SAWS and other relevant legislation (for example Health & Safety). This document is issued to inform and help participants meet their obligations under the terms of the SAWS.

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme provides farmers and growers in the UK with a source of overseas labour to meet their unmet demand for seasonal workers. The scheme enables students in full-time education in non-European Economic Area countries to finance a visit to the UK, learning something of the culture and language during their stay and earning money in the process. The scheme is managed by the Home Office which appoints Operators to administer the scheme on its behalf.

The member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme (SAWS) originates from the immediate post-war years and has essentially been a cultural exchange scheme that has sought to facilitate the movement of young people from across Europe to work in UK agriculture, and in particular to help with the harvests. The principles and features of the Scheme have remained largely unchanged since its inception.

In 2002 the Government commenced a formal review of the SAWS to establish how it might better meet the needs of the current agricultural industry. This review of the SAWS reflected the recent and significant growing demand from farmers and growers to expand the Scheme to help meet their rising needs for additional seasonal labour.

The principal recommendations of the review were published in November 2002 and are effective on 1st January 2004. They are:

> Potato (usually grading)
> Tomato (glasshouse production) (harvest & packing)
> Cucumber (glasshouse production) (harvest & packing)
> Bedding plant production
> Hardy Nursery Stock production
> Salad crops (harvest & packing) - both protected cropping and field grown
> Bulb production (for example daffodil) (lifting, grading, packing for sale)
> Flower (picking & packing)
> The Operator - tying, harvesting and processing
> Turkey production (plucking and packing for Christmas trade)
> Livestock (lambing) very limited numbers at present
> Livestock (calving) very limited numbers at present
> Arable crop production (grain hauling/drying) very limited numbers at present

• Generally, there are no special skills, experience or attributes required by those undertaking the seasonal tasks on a farm. However farmers and growers seek participants to have some experience of working within agriculture or horticulture and to be able to speak and understand the English language.
• Work is usually manual and unskilled.
• Training is provided on-farm as part of the induction programme.
• There are however some seasonal jobs that will involve the operation of agricultural machines and vehicles. Participants wishing to be considered for these placements should already have some experience of the agricultural machinery/vehicles and the safe handling of them. These participants must hold a full driving license and must bring this document to the UK with them, together with a verified translation (into the English Language) stating the participants name, home address and the category of vehicle the licence permits him or her to drive.
• Where participants are expected to drive vehicles on the road, they will be asked to demonstrate, in person, to their employer (the farmer or grower) that they are competent to drive vehicles safely on the UK's roads. In addition, they should have a good command of the English language in order to understand road and safety signs.
• Wages

  • The wages paid to all workers in the agricultural industry are subject to legislation set out in the Agricultural Wages Board Orders that are currently in force.
  • There are different Orders in force in different geographic regions of the UK.

> Agricultural Wages Board Orders (AWBO) (England & Wales). For all wages paid to agricultural workers in England and Wales. The AWBO for England and Wales are reviewed annually (usually in July). Full details of the current AWBO can be viewed from the following link:http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/agwages/awo2003/awo03.pdf to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website - under the heading 'agricultural workers/employment'. Tel: Agricultural Wages Team 0845 0000 134 {local rates apply).
> Scottish Agricultural Wages Board Orders (SAWBO). For all wages paid to agricultural workers in Scotland. The AWBO for Scotland are reviewed annually (usually in January). Full details of the current SAWBO can be viewed from the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/librarv5/agri/awso-00.asp to the Scottish Executive's website. Tel: The Scottish Office Agricultural Department 0131 244 6397.
> Northern Ireland Agricultural Wages Board Orders (Northern Irish AWB). For all wages paid to agricultural workers in Northern Ireland (Ulster). The AWBO for Northern Ireland are reviewed annually (usually in XXX). Full details of the current Northern Irish can be viewed from the following link: http://www.dardni.gov.uk/core/dard0227.htm to the Department of Agriculture and Rural development (DARD) website. Tel: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 028 9052 0813.

• Deductions from wages and other charges

  • Participants of the SAWS should expect some deductions to be made from their wages. These may include any of the following:
  > National Insurance. See paper attached to this document (Paper Ref H/03/146 NIC's)
  > Income Tax. See paper attached to this document (Paper Ref HG/03/002 Income Tax)
  > Charge for accommodation. This is usually deducted on a weekly basis and will be recorded on the payslip.
  • Other charges
  > Participants of the SAWS should expect some other charges to be made by the farmers and growers. Farmers and growers must seek the written agreement from workers before making any deductions (other then those recorded above) from a workers wages. Therefore the participants of the SAWS will usually be asked to sign an agreement stating that they are happy for particular deductions to be made – the purpose of the deductions and amount must be recorded. Charges will usually be asked for each week by the employer and, for example only, may include charges for: provision of electricity and/or gas; provision of transport to local amenities for example bus or taxi to supermarkets and sThe Operator or transport to local places of interest pubs/clubs etc.; a contribution to social activities/events/trips that the employer organises for all those resident on the farm.
  • Bond or deposit - Most farmers and growers providing on-farm accommodation will require participants to pay a bond or deposit against damage to the accommodation and facilities. If an employer wishes to take a bond or deposit he or she must issue a receipt for the money. Farmers and growers will usually request payment of a bond or deposit over the first 2 or 3 weeks of work. Bonds or deposits are returned to the participant when they leave the farm. However deductions will be made if any wilful damage is caused to the fabric of the accommodation and facilities provided or if a contract cleaner is required to clean the accommodation if the participants have failed to leave it in a clean condition.
• Each farm should write to participants with full details of all deductions before they travel to UK.

Occasionally, students arrive at the airport in the UK before their luggage does. This can happen particularly after an international or national transfer. The luggage should be found by the airline and the airline usually will send it to you at the farm by carrier. If your luggage does not arrive:-