A British company has invited nationals of Tajikistan to seasonal agricultural work in the United Kingdom (UK).
“About 1,000 people have reportedly submitted applications, but only 250 of them have managed to pass the English exam,” an official source within the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population (MoLMEP) told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“So far, 69 people have been invited to work and they are currently preparing papers,” the source said.
According to him, a MoLMEP will send 500 nationals of Tajikistan to the United Kingdom for seasonal agricultural work at the invitation of the British company.
“British company Pro-Force has announced through the Migration Service of Tajikistan that it invites national of Tajikistan to seasonal agricultural works in the UK,” said the source. “We have sent a list of candidates through the Tajik Embassy in London and they have communicated with them online.”
He noted that the cost of the trip to the United Kingdom is from US$1,000 to US$1,400 and applicants will pay for it themselves. .
“The company has one requirement – knowledge of English at the level of communication. In the United Kingdom, they will work up to eight hours per day, and they will earn about 1.500-2000 pounds per month. After six months, the Tajik migrant must return home,” the source added.
It is to be noted that according to some sources, an estimated 1 million Tajik seasonal workers travel abroad each year, primarily to Russia but also to neighboring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. They often complain about poor treatment and low wages in these countries.
In recent years, Tajik nationals have increasingly chosen European countries, South Korea and the United States for labor migration.
Meanwhile, Kyrgyz media reports say the first group of Kyrgyz nationals have arrived in the United Kingdom for seasonal work.
24.kg, citing the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, reported on June 8 that Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ulan Dzhusupov met the Kyrgyzstanis who arrived in the United Kingdom for seasonal work at London Stansted airport.
The director at Fruitful Jobs Justin David Emery and the head of Agri-HR Jan-Willem Naerebout also participated in the meeting from the British side.
The group reportedly arrived in the United Kingdom as part of an agreement signed between the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad under the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Kyrgyz Republic and the British company Agri-HR, which recruits and employs Kyrgyz citizens.
Kabar reported on March 31 that Ms. Aigul Eshenkulova, director of the branch of AgriHR company in Kyrgyzstan said at a press conference at Kabar News Agency that 1,000 Kyrgyzstanis will be able to become seasonal workers in the United Kingdom.
According to her, this became possible as part of an agreement between the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security of the Kyrgyz Republic and the British company ARGI-HR on reduced temporary employment of Kyrgyz citizens on farms of Great Britain under the program of seasonal agricultural workers.
“In accordance with the Agreement, citizens of Kyrgyzstan (men and women over 18 years old) get the opportunity to go to farms of Great Britain (Scotland and England) for up to 6 months, get a decent wage, learn new skills in agricultural development,” Eshenkulova said.
The branch director also noted that full information on this program can be found on www.migrant.kg and on www.agri-hr.com.
In the UK, since 2019 there is a government program that allocates quotas to hire foreign nationals for agricultural work. Currently, the scope of interest includes citizens of Bulgaria, the Republic, Ukraine, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Founded in 2005, Pro-Force focuses on tailoring its recruitment services to its client’s individual needs. The company helps find work for thousands of people all across the UK, EU and across the globe as part of the Seasonal Worker Pilot. Pro=Force is one the leading national labor providers to the horticultural, agricultural, fresh produce and industrial sectors.
Fruitful Jobs Ltd is a labor supply company that built its business in the competitive soft fruit manual harvest sector. The company has built a strong team overseas to recruit the best workers for its clients, and a UK team that is experienced and able to react to clients’ requirements at short notice.
Agri-HR selects candidates from the UK and Bulgaria for EU and the UK employers. It also exclusively recruits candidates for Fruitful Jobs (Seasonal Worker Pilot Operator) from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These candidates are placed with UK farms Fruitful Jobs work with.
Agri-HR also works with other seasonal agricultural worker schemes for non-EU workers for European farms. It focuses on seasonal agricultural workers. The company also recruits skilled staff such as tractor drivers, mechanics, spray operators, crop husbandry and agronomy staff.
