FOI release

2004 / 2005 SAWS quota for each of the nine operators

General Information about SAWS Purpose of the SAWS The SAWS allows farmers and growers in the UK to recruit overseas workers to undertake …

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2004/2005 SAWS quota for each of the nine operators (PDF file - 26kb)

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General Information about SAWS

Purpose of the SAWS

The SAWS allows farmers and growers in the UK to recruit overseas workers to undertake work that is both seasonal and agricultural. The scheme helps to meet the shortfall in the supply of seasonal labour from within the UK and European Union.

Background

The SAWS has existed for many years and as well as being an important source of seasonal labour to UK farmers and growers, many overseas workers benefit from the opportunity to earn money and experience some of the culture and sights of the UK.

The SAWS is managed by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office. Work Permits (UK) contracts with a number of organisations known as Operators to administer the scheme on its behalf.

SAWS Operators

There are two types of Operators with which Work Permits (UK) contracts. These are as follows:

Multiple Operators - these organisations act on behalf of other farmers and growers only. They do not recruit SAWS participants to meet their own need for seasonal labour.

Sole Operators - these organisations are farmers and growers in their own right. They act on their own behalf only, meeting their own need for seasonal labour.

SAWS Operators are responsible for:

  • Sourcing and recruiting eligible workers to take part in the scheme
  • Assessing and monitoring farmers for their ability to provide suitable work placements to SAWS workers
  • Ensuring the SAWS workers are treated fairly and within the law
  • Ensuring that farmers and growers are provided with people who are suitable to do the work on offer.

SAWS Quota

The number of people able to participate on the SAWS each year is limited by a quota. The quota for 2005 is currently set at 16,250 places.

 

Date: Mon Oct 17 09:07:58 BST 2005

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Published 17 October 2005

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