Requirements for seasonal work

Seasonal work on farms usually involves:

• plantinginvolves crops
• planting, harvesting crops
• and packing crops

AgriculturalThe workerswork arecan classifiedbe asindoors keyor workersoutdoors underin theall categoryweather Foodconditions and othercan necessarybe goods.physical, Thisinvolving includesfrequent thoselifting involvedand incarrying foodof production,items processing,or distribution,operating salemachinery.

Most farms are in rural areas and delivery.want full time workers for a temporary season.

RequirementsWhere forto seasonallook workfor jobs

SeasonalIf you have a legal right to work onin farmsthe isUK, suitablelook for peopleseasonal withfarm alljobs levelson ofFind experience.a Youjob do- notuse needsearch toterms havesuch doneas this‘fruit kindpicking’ ofor work‘vegetable beforepicking’. 

Alternatively ascheck thewith farmlocal willgrowers provideand training.labour providers who recruit directly.

Seasonal Worker visa

TheIf work:you do not have the right to work in the UK, you need a  Seasonal Worker visa.

• can

  To beobtain indoorsa orvisa outdoorsyou dependingfirst onneed a sponsor. The approved visa sponsors (known as the crop‘scheme operators’), are:  

  • AGRI-HR
  • isConcordia physical,(UK) involvingLtd
  • Fruitful frequentJobs
  • HOPS liftingLabour andSolutions carryingLtd
  • Pro-Force ofLimited
  • RE itemsRecruitment or(Poultry operatingworkers machineryonly)

  You’llYou needshould to:only apply for seasonal work through these sponsors. If you are successful, the scheme operator will support you to get your visa.  

  • be

    A ablescheme operator will not ask you to makepay any money in exchange for a timevisa.

    Avoiding commitmentrecruitment scams

    You will have to pay for your Seasonal Worker visa and travel costs to the farmUK, -but mostthere farmsis areno lookingfee for fullthe timesponsorship workerscertificate.

    In some countries you may also need to pay for:

    • a criminal record check
    • considera travelmedical arrangementscertificate
    • a asvisa theappointment
    • visa farmbiometric processing
    • a labour ministry fee

    Any other request for payment (for example, translation of your CV) is a scam.

    The scheme operators may beuse agents in ayour ruralcountry areato help recruit workers.  These agents will be listed on the scheme operators websites listed on this page.

    They must be licensed on the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) register.

    Do not engage with any other agent or liveindividual and do not make any payments to them.

    You should check that any communication related to your visa is from the contact details on the farmscheme inoperator employerwebsite. providedYou accommodationcan contact the scheme operator forto check.

    Work offers will not be sent to you by scheme operators by:

    • WhatsApp
    • Telegram
    • a charge personal account

    Where

    If you’re unsure about payments you are being asked to lookmake, foryou jobsshould contact the relevant scheme operator using the contact details on their website.

    Working on UK farms

    Before arriving to work

    YouMost canSeasonal lookVisa workers will pay for seasonaltheir jobsvisa onapplication farmsfee from:and travel costs, for example flights.

    You may need to provide:

    • Finda criminal record check
    • a jobmedical -certificate
    • payment useto the searchlabour termsministry

    What ‘fruityou picking’will ‘vegetablepay picking’for

    You will need funds to cover initial expenses before you receive your first pay. You’ll pay tax on your wages.

    You will also need to cover other costs such as:

    • accommodation
    • growersgroceries
    • living whoessentials

    You are likely to live recruiton directlyor -near checkthe farm in employer accommodation, for a legally specified maximum charge.  You should not be asked to pay anything in advance for localaccommodation.

    What opportunities

  you will be paid

  You shouldwill checkbe paid at the minimum National Living Wage (or in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales the appropriate agricultural wage) for at least 32 hours a rangeweek. 

  You ofmay sitesbe wherepaid theremore areaccording likelyto how much you pick, but you will still need to be morepaid opportunitiesat forleast workthe overNational Living Wage for the summer.pay period.

  Keeping workers safe

  FarmingFarms and growing businesses are required to keepprotect youworkers’ safehealth, by:safety, and welfare by providing:

  • ensuringa premisessafe areworkplace
  • accommodation
  • transport
  • safe cleanequipment including free personal protective equipment
  • providingproper safetraining and cleansupervision

  If accommodationyou iffeel requiredunsafe (usuallyor athave any problem on a smallfarm, cost)

• ensuringtalk anyto transportthe theyfarm providemanager meetsor safetycontact guidelines