UK Seasonal Worker Scheme Taskforce (SWS taskforce)

Taskforce membership offers a collaborative space for discussions with supply chain and wider stakeholders to advance continuous improvement in responsible recruitment and employment practices in the seasonal worker scheme and wider UK horticulture.

• Worker information and feedback mechanisms to improve the worker experience and offer real time insights for businesses:
  • Just Good Work App makes information on seasonal working, entitlements and support accessible in many languages to workers during recruitment and on farm
  • Workers Survey enables growers and Scheme Operators es to benchmark performance and gain insights to support targeted improvements to enhance worker experiences and reduce risks  

• Education and resources for UK growers through in person and online training
• Responsible Recruitment Progress Assessments with all five Scheme Operators offering a standardised approach to audit to support continuous improvement in responsible recruitment practices
• A Seasonal Worker Support Line that enhances access to problem resolution and grievance mechanisms through a confidential multi-lingual triage service providing information, referral and signposting for workers
• Guidance on minimising the risks of online exploitation for applicants to the scheme through information and awareness raising
• Policy recommendations offering the chance to influence the future of the scheme through a strong collective voice to government
• Membership is free for SME growers and tiered membership fees apply to Large Growers/Suppliers, Scheme Operators, Retailers and Food Service Organisations.

Please get in touch directly with the Taskforce Secretariat to arrange an introductory call for more information: swstaskforce@stronger2gether.org

The Taskforce produces resources for growers and suppliers within the sector to support their seasonal workers before, throughout and after the season. These resources are free to access:

• Taskforce Grower Seasonal Worker Toolkit and Resources 

Resource themes include:

• • Grower checklists / Policy / Risk Assessment Templates
  • Worker welfare
  • Grievance management
  • Accommodation
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Cultural awareness
  • Supervisor training
  • Tackling Recruitment Scamming

• IOM materials
  • IOM Poster
  • Pre-departure orientation module with guidance on ensuring dignity, safety and wellbeing of workers
  • Pre-departure orientation handbooks as a resource for workers from four Central Asian countries
  • Supervisor video resource package covering communication, cultural awareness and gender issues
  • Tax refund guidance and videos for workers in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik and Uzbek

• Taskforce Webinar Recordings 
  • Supervisors training
  • Responsible Recruitment Progress Assessment
  • Independent Workers Survey
  • UK Grower Seasonal Worker Roadshow 2026
  • Managing Mental Health
  • Preparing for Employment Rights Act requirements on harassment
  • Sharing good practice on making Grievance mechanisms effective, trusted, and accessible
  • Key changes in the new FPC Accommodation guidance

The Taskforce facilitates collaboration across the UK horticulture sector and with external stakeholders. Engagement with policy makers aims to improve scheme design, implementation and stability to safeguard workers’ rights and support responsible business.

Each year, the Taskforce develops high level policy recommendations through member consultations which draw on perspectives of workers through survey data as well as expertise of industry partners implementing the scheme. Policy recommendations are shared with government Ministers. DEFRA and Scottish Government representatives participate in the Taskforce with observer status.

Key Taskforce Policy Recommendations emphasise the need for:

• Stability and predictability
• Collaboration with all relevant branches of government
• Government and industry working together on grievance mechanisms
• Fair arrangements to enable seasonal workers to maximise retained earnings
• Responsible recruitment including continued engagement in actions to mitigate risks of recruitment fees and related costs incurred by migrant workers
• Mitigating the risk of exploitation in source countries, including by strengthening and expanding bilateral co-operation agreements, effective monitoring of overseas FWA licence holders and strengthened action against scammers.

The Taskforce proactively engages with organisations supporting workers’ rights and has collaborated with the IOM to ensure that guidance and information available to workers and actors across source countries and UK are aligned and enhance worker wellbeing. IOM has provided training on cultural awareness and worked with the Taskforce to develop resources on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH).