KONKORDIJA PRAVILA http://www.jssina.lv/Jssina/concordia_eng.php HISTORY Concordia (Youth Service Volunteers) Ltd is a non-profit making Charity and is non-political and non- sectarian. It was founded in 1943, under its original name of Youth Service Camps Ltd, for the purpose of gathering the fruit and crops during the Second World War. It proved a means of providing many young people with a paid holiday and at the same time, if they worked hard enough, earning them a small amount of pocket money. The idea proved to be so popular that at the end of the Second World War there was a big demand to carry on. At about this time it was suggested that young people of all nations should be invited to take part in the scheme with a view to providing a better understanding between the youth of all nations and thereby make a positive contribution to peace among all the nations. It was at this time, 1949, that the Charity changed its name to Concordia (Youth Service Volunteers) Ltd. Since that date Concordia has provided the means for thousands of young people drawn from over fifty different nations throughout the world to share in this scheme. AIMS AND OBJECTS • Concordia aims to bring together the youth of all nations throughout the world, to promote a better understanding between them of their ideas, beliefs and ways of living and thereby promote a better understanding between the nations throughout the world. • Concordia places students with various fruit, vegetable, flower and hop growers in this country where they are able to earn sufficient money to pay their expenses and at the same time make some money. It is NOT an employment agency. SEASONS • Soft fruit - April/May to October. Paid at piece work rates, i.e. the more you pick, the more you earn. Rates vary according to crop and weather conditions and may change daily. • Vegetables/Salads – March/April/May to October/November depending on the crop. Wages hourly as laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board or piece work. • Hop/Apple - late August, September and October. Wages as for vegetables and salads. • Flowers - March to September. Wages as for vegetables and salads. THE STATE OF THE CROPS The programme has to be printed some eight to ten months before the season, and sometimes adverse weather conditions can cause delays or crop failures. For this reason Concordia CANNOT GUARANTEE WORK AND THE DATES SHOWN IN THIS PROGRAMME MAY BE SUBJECT TO ALTERATION AT SHORT NOTICE. Every effort is made to find work for successful applicants who are victims of this situation, and a place at a farm in a different area may have to be offered as an alternative. GENERAL INFORMATION - CONCORDIA • For those who have not experienced fruit/vegetable harvesting before, it should be understood that living and working conditions are shared and suit people who are good mixers and enjoy communal living. To earn sufficient money to cover your expenses and spending money you must be willing to work hard in changeable weather conditions. You may be disciplined by your employer if your behaviour is unsatisfactory. • Concordia has a complaints procedure. If you are dissatisfied with conditions on the farm you have selected, contact our office. • It should be emphasised that the interest of the farmer or grower is to harvest his crops. For this reason you are expected to attend for the full period stated in the programme, work hard and be prepared to work when and where required as your labour is essential to your employer. • The stay at your chosen farm camp should not be regarded as a form of inexpensive holiday. It is a serious work experience. If you are unable to pick sufficiently well after training, to be paid at the minimum hourly rate of pay, your employer may cease to offer you work and you may have to leave the farm. Whilst some farms offer English lessons and you may also improve your spoken English as a result of being in the UK, no formal English language courses are available through Concordia. • The Work Card is a valuable document. DO NOT LOSE IT. It must be handed to the employer when you arrive, he will stamp and date it when you leave and return it to Concordia. It is essential that the above procedure is followed, particularly for those wishing to re-enter the UK in the future. • As stated previously, Concordia regrets that FULL WORK IS NOT GUARANTEED although they will endeavour to find alternative employment in the event of crop failure. INCOME TAX AND NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS • National Insurance contributions will continue to be deducted on earnings over ?89.00 per week. Foreign students are allowed the same benefits as British students, i.e. exemption from tax on approximately the first ?4615 earned. On farms where high earnings are anticipated, tax will be deducted each pay day. However any refunds owing to you may be calculated and repaid at the end of the work period. • Students of Agriculture or English language can claim exemption from National Insurance ONLY if they bring with them a certificate from their University, IN ENGLISH, proving that English or Agriculture are an important part of their curriculum. THIS MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE EMPLOYER BEFORE THE FIRST PAY DAY. You will need a certificate for each farm placement. This certificate should not be confused with the student status certificate sent to Concordia with your application. Any request for a copy of the certificate held by Concordia will be subject to a charge of ?10.00. AGE LIMIT • Only those born between January 1979 and December 1983 will be considered. DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE OLDER OR YOUNGER THAN THIS, SUCH APPLICATIONS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE REJECTED. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS • You must make your own travel arrangements and pay your own travel expenses. The cheapest method of travel in the UK is by bus or coach. • Students with valid International Students cards can obtain a reduction of 30% off their travel costs using this method. Please enquire in your country of origin for similar arrangements. INSURANCE • Please note that N.I. contributions deducted from your pay are not the same as an insurance policy. Our fee now includes medical, optical and emergency dental insurance. Claims for treatment are subject to the first ?25 of the claim being paid by the claimant. The policy does not cover any medical condition that already exists before your arrival in the UK. Please note the insurance does not cover the loss or theft of personal property. POSTAGE • All documents and Work Cards will be sent by DHL, the cost of which is included in the registration fee. Neither Concordia nor JSSINA can accept responsibility for the safe delivery of documents and Work Cards. METHOD OF PAYMENT • For those who apply to Concordia programme through JSSINA we inform that all payments should be arranged to JSSINA banking account according to invoices received. All monies have to be paid to JSSINA SIA, Reg. No: LV40003521850, HANSABANKA, 26.Kalku Street, Riga, LV1050. Account No: 551002044063, SWIFT CODE: HABALV22. Please, note, that each student has his/her own invoice and it is important to write the invoice’s number in details when you pay in HANSABANKA or arrange banking transfer. • Foreign applicants wishing to pay by cheque should consult with their Banks, as the transaction has to be carried out between the sender’s Bank and Concordia’s Bank. Anyone wishing to pay direct to the Concordia Bank Account should arrange for payment to be made to: Concordia (YSV) Ltd, Bank of Scotland, 15 Queens Square, Brighton BN1 3FD. Account No: 121268-00223425, SWIFT CODE: BOFSGB2L. If payment is made using this method, it must be understood that international banking transactions will always incur charges. Failure to pay these charges could result in the full registration fee not being received by Concordia. If this happens, any discrepancy will be deducted from your deposit. The remitting bank should be specifically requested to quote in full the name and address of the remitter. Foreign applicants wishing to pay by cheque should consult with their Banks, as the transaction has to be carried out between the sender’s Bank and Concordia’s Bank. We regret that multi-payments from third parties cannot be accepted nor can fees be paid by International Postal Coupons. • NO BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE BEFORE RECEIPT OF THE REGISTRATION FEE. ENTRY PERMITS • Since 1997 all SAWS scheme students were allowed an entry permit until 30th November. Since April 2003 all SAWS scheme students are allowed an entry permit until 31st December. From 2003 SAWS students will be allowed to work from 1st February. This does not guarantee that continuous work will be available until 31st December. Students must return home when their period of farm work has finished if no further work can be arranged by Concordia. VISA NATIONALS • It is regretted that Registration Fees cannot be refunded in the event of a Visa being refused. Your deposit will be refunded on production of the letter of refusal. • The presentation of your Concordia Work Card when applying for a Visa should assist but is not in itself a guarantee that a Visa will be issued. • On receipt of the Concordia Work Card students should apply for a Visa immediately. During the summer months there can be delays of 2 to 3 months in obtaining a Visa owing to the very heavy demand for them. REGISTRATION FEE AND DEPOSIT Concordia charges are as follows: a registration fee of ?62.10 (incl. VAT); compulsory medical, dental & optical insurance of ?12.90; a returnable deposit of ?25; making a total of ?100. Once a work card has been issued no refund can be made of the registration fee. The insurance premium is paid to the insurers one month prior to the start of work. It is not possible to refund this in the event of cancellation unless at least 5 weeks notice of cancellation is given. The ?25.00 deposit will be returned to the applicant under any of the following conditions: - At the end of the work period on presentation of the Record of Deposit form; - Refusal of Visa - proof of this should be sent with the Record of Deposit form to Concordia; - Cancellation for other reasons providing the Work Card and Record of Deposit form are returned to Concordia FOUR WEEKS before the commencement of the work period stated on the work card. Cancellations received after this date will not be considered for a refund. The ?25.00 deposit will NOT be refunded under the following circumstances: - If a student leaves the farm before the end of the work period; - If a student arrives unacceptably late for the work periods; - If a student goes to a different farm than stated on the work card without permission from Concordia; - If a student is dismissed for any reason. JSSINA LTD charges are as follows: Concordia fee (approximately95Ls); agent commission (approximately Ls80); Latvian VAT 18% (approximatelyLs15) which all student must pay when apply for the programme; ticket reservation (Ls25); making a total of Ls215. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOS WHO HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR CONCORDIA PROGRAMME • DO write clearly to complete application form and return it to Concordia, Heversham House, 2nd Floor, 20/22 Boundary Road, Hove, BN3 4ET. • DO enclose two passport photographs, separate proof of date of birth, medical certificate and a certificate from your Faculty proving your students status and that you are returning to continue your studies in 2003/2004. For selections beginning in March, April, May or early June or ending in late October, November or December, you must enclose a letter from your faculty in English, stating that you have permission to leave the university during this period. Applications without separate certificates will not be considered. • Once accepted, you will receive a Work Card and information about the farm for which you have been selected. Please read it carefully. • If your application cannot be accepted you will be notified. In this case both registration fee and deposit will be returned less ?5 administrative fee. In most cases the returning bank will also make a charge. Refunds will be processed between September and December. • Anyone entering the UK with a tourist entry permit CANNOT be issued with a Work Card, and are prohibited from working. • DO NOT apply if you have already been accepted twice before OR if you left a farm before the end of the work period in a previous year. • DO NOT apply for a period of work unless you can stay for the whole period. • DO NOT buy Concordia application form, it may be a forgery. PHOTOCOPIED APPLICATIONS AND FORGERIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. Such farms may be subject to an additional administration charge. Students wishing to be placed together must apply together. CONDITIONS FOR APPLICANTS • No booking can be made before the relevant fees have been received. It must also be stressed that once a booking has been accepted no refund of these fees can be made if the applicant cancels his/her booking at a later date for any reason. In the event of a cancellation, consideration will be given to a replacement providing sufficient notice is given. • That the applicant is in possession of a valid passport and, if applicable, entry visa to this country or has established that he can obtain these documents on receipt of an acceptance card from Concordia. • These conditions particularly refer to the state of your health and your willingness to live and work with other nationalities. • Within UK Health & Safety regulations farmers reserve the right not to offer employment to any student who is unfit for work or who has a contagious disease • That the applicant has read and understood the Conditions under which Concordia is prepared to accept him/her and has signed the application form to confirm this. ON ARRIVAL IN THE UK • Students must be in possession of a valid Seasonal Agricultural Workcard clearly indicating the farm(s) for which they have been booked. These cards are issued by the Immigration and Policy Directorate (IPD). • They must be presented to the Immigration Authorities on arrival in the country so that passports may be endorsed allowing students to work on a Concordia farm. The work card does not permit students to seek paid or unpaid employment other than on a Concordia farm • Work cards are not transferable and any card presented in a name other than that which appears on the passport or which has been altered may mean refusal of entry in the UK or subsequent dismissal and deportation. • The work card must be given to the employer at the beginning of the work period. • Students should have sufficient funds to cover their costs until the first pay day. • Neither Concordia nor JSSINA accept responsibility if, for any reason, you are refused entry by the Immigration Authorities. • Neither Concordia nor JSSINA can be held liable for any accident incurred whilst working.