THE LABOUR CRISIS
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Independent consultant and Horticulture Industry Forum coordinator, Stiofán Nutty explains how developments in work permits provision may help to alleviate the labour crisis in horticulture and provides step by step instructions to help you get started
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rising from the Teagasc Horticulture Labour Force Survey report publish ed last September which highlighted the major labour recruitment challenges facing producers, the HIF Full Forum meeting on 27 November approved a series of recommendations to alleviate the situation, both in the short term and over the coming years. One of the measures identified that can help is the greater availability of work permits, which allows producers to hire staff from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). The introduction of a pilot work permit scheme in May 2018 provides the opportunity for the industry to apply for 500 permits. In the longer term it
is hoped that a permanent work permit scheme would be established and by taking up all the 500 pilot programme work permits this year, the industry would demonstrate the need for a more permanent scheme. To help provide more information to producers on how to apply for these work permits the HIF hosted a Planning for Labour Supply in 2019 event in The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co Kildare on 16 January. The event was well attended, and presentations are available on www.teagasc.ie. The work permit application process is detailed and takes a number of weeks to complete but producers who apply themselves to the task are succeeding. To help first-time producer applicants, the HIF has compiled the Key Steps to Securing a Work Permit Online document below.
KEY STEPS TO SECURING A WORK PERMIT ONLINE This information is designed to help guide a first time horticulture employer online applicant through the application process for a general work permit under the current pilot scheme. The contents of this document do not purport to be a comprehensive and authoritative guide. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is the responsible government department and you should refer to the full user guide and online application form on the EPOS online portal at www.epos.djei.ie
ACTION 1/3 – ADVERTISE THE VACANCY: ●● ● With the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Employment Services/EURES employment network for at least two weeks (ad must run on EURES for two weeks prior to submitting application for permit); and ●● ● In a national newspaper for at least three days; and also ●● ● In either a local newspaper or jobs website (separate to Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection/EURES websites) for three days.
● You must provide copies of the newspaper pages
clearly showing the advertisement and date of publication.
The vacancy notice must include the following information: ● Description of the employment; ● Name of the employer; ● Annual remuneration value (which must be €22,000 or
more, based on a 39 hour week); ● Location(s) of employment; ● Hours of work.
Spring 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED
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