Hiring and Sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers (SOC Code 5433)

Fishmongers and Poultry Dressers, classified under SOC Code 5433, are skilled professionals in the food processing industry responsible for the handling and preparation of fish and poultry products. Their key tasks include:

• Processing Fish:
• • Scrubbing, de-scaling, and gutting fish.
  • Cutting and slitting fish for curing, utilizing both manual and machine techniques.
• Poultry Handling:
• • Caring for livestock prior to processing and during the slaughter stage.
• Utilizing manual or mechanical methods for:
  • • Removing feathers and internal organs.
    • Extracting edible offal.
  • Disassembling poultry carcasses (trimming, filleting, portioning).
• Product Preparation:
• • Weighing, labeling, packing, and stacking finished products as required.
  • Ensuring quality assurance and adhering to food hygiene standards.
• Supervision:
• • Overseeing product changeover and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) related to food production.
  • Supervising others engaged in performing tasks as required.

As the demand for quality seafood and poultry products continues to rise, the need for adept fishmongers and poultry dressers is expected to grow. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the process of hiring and sponsoring these vital roles within the UK's food industry.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Fishmongers and poultry dressers?

SOC Code 5433 refers to fishmongers and poultry dressers who are responsible for the processing of fish and poultry products. Their responsibilities can include:

• Preparing fish for sale: Scrubbing, de-scaling, and gutting fish, as well as cutting and slitting for curing either by hand or machine.
• Livestock care: Caring for livestock prior to processing and during the slaughter stage.
• Processing poultry: Handling tasks such as the removal of feathers and internal organs, extraction of edible offal, and trimming, filleting, and dressing poultry carcasses.
• Portioning and packing: Weighing, labeling, packing, and stacking finished products as required through manual or mechanical means.
• Quality assurance: Overseeing quality control, food hygiene standards, product changeover, and other food production KPIs.
• Supervision: Supervising others who are conducting processing tasks to ensure efficiency and compliance with industry standards.

Fishmongers and poultry dressers play a vital role in the food supply chain, contributing to food safety and quality while meeting consumer demand for fresh seafood and poultry products.

Eligibility to Hire Fishmongers and poultry dressers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Fishmongers and poultry dressers must possess certain skills and qualifications to effectively carry out their responsibilities. These may include:

• Experience in Fish and Poultry Processing: Demonstrated experience in scrubbing, de-scaling, gutting, washing, and boning fish, as well as dressing and processing poultry. 
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in using both manual and mechanical tools for fish and poultry preparation, including cutting, slicing, and packaging processes.
• Food Safety Knowledge: Understanding of food safety regulations, quality assurance protocols, and hygiene practices related to fish and poultry processing.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to perform physically demanding tasks that may require lifting, standing for long periods, and manual dexterity in handling products.
• Supervisory Skills: Experience in overseeing production staff and ensuring compliance with food production KPIs and quality standards.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 5433 and that the candidate’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers under SOC Code 5433.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Fishmongers and poultry dressers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Fishmongers and poultry dressers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Fishmongers and poultry dressers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Fishmongers and poultry dressers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Fishmongers and poultry dressers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Fishmongers and poultry dressers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Fishmongers and poultry dressers

Before the Fishmongers and poultry dressers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Fishmongers and poultry dressers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Fishmongers and poultry dressers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Fishmongers and poultry dressers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Fishmongers and poultry dressers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Fishmongers and poultry dresserss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers

Sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers under SOC Code 5433 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Fishmongers and poultry dressers under SOC Code 5433 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.