Seasonal Employment Permit Pilot Scheme 2025 Evaluation Report

This report examines the policy rationale, design and implementation of the 2025 Seasonal Employment Permit Pilot Scheme. It outlines the pilot structure and data gathered from stakeholders.

The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment introduced a pilot during 2025 of the new Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) which commenced under the Employment Permits Act 2024. The SEP was developed in response to ongoing challenges in sourcing seasonal labour within the horticulture sector and was piloted in 2025 to test whether a regulated, rights-based migration route can meet the labour needs effectively.

The evaluation considered the practical operation of the SEP model via the pilot, covering employer approval, recruitment, compliance, protections and operational considerations.