Sectors Based Scheme workers

This section explains what the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) is, and what workers coming to the UK under the SBS can expect.

The SBS allows UK-based employers to recruit low-skilled Bulgarian and Romanian workers to vacancies that cannot be filled by resident workers.

Can you be an SBS worker?

To come and work in the UK under the SBS, you must be a Bulgarian or Romanian national. If you are from any other country, you cannot work here under the SBS.

A UK-based employer must apply for an SBS permit on your behalf. The permit will be issued for you to do a specific job with that employer. If you decide not to take that job, you will not be able to transfer the permit to another job or employer. If you want to change your job or employer once you have started work, your new employer will need to apply for a new SBS permit.

Accession worker card

Before you can start to work in the UK, you will need an accession worker card. When your employer has been issued with an SBS permit for you, you must apply for an accession worker card using application form BR3. To find out how to apply, see the Work permits and accession worker cards pages. You must not start work until you have received your accession worker card.

What work will you do?

As an SBS worker, you will be employed within 1 or more of the following areas in the food manufacturing industry:

• fish processing;
• meat processing; and/or
• mushroom processing.

You will be expected to be employed to do 1 or more of these specific roles:

Fish processing

• Fish filleters - prepare, clean, cut fish for processing.
• Fish packers - pack, wrap, label, seal fish for distribution and sale.
• Fish process operatives - operate, mind and clean machines that prepare fish.

The processing of shellfish is covered in the above job descriptions.

Meat processing

• Animal gut remover.
• Meat bone breaker.
• Meat bone extractor.
• Meat cold store operator.
• Meat cutter.
• Meat packer.
• Meat process operative.
• Meat slaughterer.
• Lairageman - pre-slaughter animal welfare attendant.
• Trimmer - trim fat from and shape meat after it has been boned and cut.

Mushroom processing

• Mushroom processor - tend growing crops, pick, grade and pack mushrooms for distribution and sale.

How long can you stay here?

SBS permits are issued for a maximum of 12 months. If your initial permit is issued for less than 12 months, your employer can apply to extend it.

You do not need to leave the UK when your permit expires. As an EEA national, you have the right to remain here if you can support yourself and any dependants.

When you have worked in the UK for a continuous 12-month period, you can apply for a registration certificate. This gives you unrestricted access to the UK labour market, and you will no longer need to apply for an accession worker card.

Additional employment

As an SBS permit holder, you can take additional employment without our permission if:

• it is outside your normal working hours; and
• it is for no more than 20 hours per week; and
• it is in the same industrial sector as the sector that your SBS permit was issued for; and
• it is for a job that is in the 'What work can you do?' lists above; and
• you are not employed by a recruitment agency, employment agency or similar business to a personnel client.