Does the minimum wage of 30,000 euros in a week qualify as the minimum wage?

No. The minimum salary requirement (€30,000 pro rata) is the amount that you must earn on an annual basis.15 In the case of a seven-month long seasonal worker you have to receive an amount that is proportional to the amount that you would receive per year, calculated on the basis of the working hours.

What is the optimum season of growing soft fruit and vegetable in Ireland?

The high season is usually late spring (April/May) till the end of autumn (October/November). This will be the main opportunity of employment seasonally that is recurrent in the horticultural sector.

Will I be required to be a good machine operator to obtain employment?

Not necessarily. Although positions such as machinery operator or trained relief milker can be found, much of the farm work Ireland is manual physical such as harvesting and packing, which do not need much previous experience. The employer tends to offer training.

Ireland Seasonal Farm Work Explained

Irish seasonal farm work provides non-European Economic Area (Non-EEA nationals) with a special chance to live, work and tour the country on a temporary basis every year.1 Co. Cork and Co. Tipperary with its rich dairy fields and Co. Wexford with its fruit tunnels, the agricultural industry of Ireland is dependent on seasonal talent in its busiest season.

This guide simplifies the process and outlines the key procedures with special attention to the most important one, the Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP), and is sure to provide you with the official and the most updated information on a successful application.

What is Seasonal Farm Work in Ireland?

Ireland seasonal farm work is temporary, seasonal work, usually on the busiest part of the agricultural and horticultural year.2 This is typically an intensive work period, most often spanning 3 to 7 months work usually between April and November.

Key Seasonal Job Roles

Such physical and practical tasks in certain segments of work are of the highest demand. These Job Roles and Sector Keywords will help you focus your search:

Horticultural operatives: This will mainly belong to the SEP pilot and is associated with the activities of soft fruit and vegetable crop production (e.g., picking, packing, and planting).
Dairy Farm Assistant: Helping in the milking process, animal husbandry, and raising calfs, in particular, around the busy calving season employee.
General Farm Worker: Multipurpose in beef, sheep, or pig farms, usually including maintenance, feeding, and running of small agricultural machinery.
Meat Processing Operative / Deboner: The short-term jobs are sometimes offered in food processing but with slightly higher or lower pay ranges under the General Employment Permit (GEP).
NLP Insight: The combination of particular local keywords such as Co. Cork, Co. Tipperary and Co. Wexford is aimed to the users who need to find job or information that is based in a particular place.

Know Your Visa Roadmap- Seasonal Employment Permit

As an Ireland seasonal farm work scheme, Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) is the main avenue used by Non-EEA nationals, although it is the same as the General Employment Permit (GEP), which is also handled by the DETE (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment).

Securing a Job with an Approved Seasonal Employer

This is in contrast to other work permits, in the SEP, the employer must be pre-registered by the Irish government.8, this is why obtaining a formal work contract Ireland with a verified employer is the most important initial step.

Locating Seasonal Farm Employment

Recruitment Agencies: There are numerous Approved Seasonal Employers that directly utilize recruiting specialist agricultural agencies.
The official Job Sites: Visit the official JobsIreland site and EURES network.
Direct Search: Find jobs such as horticultural operatives or Dairy Farm Assistant in major agricultural centres nationwide.
Actionable Tip: When you receive an invitation to work, ask their employer to send you a copy of the signed employment agreement that describes your position, salary, working hours, and period. This is a very vital document when applying to get your visa.

Permit Application and Immigration

The employer usually starts but the employee is issued with the ultimate employment permit.

Offer: Got the offer and signed work contract.
DETE Application: The application is submitted onto the DETE by the employer or employee using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).
Visa Application: In case you are a national of a visa required country, you are required to apply the entry visa (D-type employment visa) in case the employment permit is approved.
Registration: Once here, you have to be registered at the Immigration Service Delivery and given your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and PPSN (Personal Public Service Number).
E-A-T Focus: This is a step by step process that shows Expertise and Trustworthiness plans as it is a reflection of the formal application structure as dictated by the Irish government.

FAQs

Does the minimum wage of 30,000 euros in a week qualify as the minimum wage?

No. The minimum salary requirement (€30,000 pro rata) is the amount that you must earn on an annual basis.15 In the case of a seven-month long seasonal worker you have to receive an amount that is proportional to the amount that you would receive per year, calculated on the basis of the working hours.
What is the optimum season of growing soft fruit and vegetable in Ireland?

The high season is usually late spring (April/May) till the end of autumn (October/November). This will be the main opportunity of employment seasonally that is recurrent in the horticultural sector.
Will I be required to be a good machine operator to obtain employment?

Not necessarily. Although positions such as machinery operator or trained relief milker can be found, much of the farm work Ireland is manual physical such as harvesting and packing, which do not need much previous experience. The employer tends to offer training.

Final Thoughts

Ireland seasonal farm work is an extremely challenging and very satisfying experience. You will be working hard- probably long hours at times in the high season- but you will have the experience inestimable, a good salary, and the opportunity to get into the life of the rural community work in such counties as Co. Tipperary and Co. Wexford. A valid Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) granted by an Approved Seasonal Employer should always come first and you must be aware of your rights with the WRC.

Disclaimer

Information provided in this article is informative and educational in nature. There is a change in the official regulations and the salary levels of Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) in Ireland. It is recommended that clients have to read the most recent information and application procedures on the very websites of the DETE (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) before making their choices and applying to employment.