Transcript Welcome to the Mid Year EURES Conference

Living and working in the UK
Alison Carmichael
UK EURES adviser
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Living and working in the UK
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Working in the UK
Employment law
Benefit Information
Living in the UK
United Kingdom
 England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland
 Population - 60 million
 Unemployment varies across the UK –
average is 5%
 Language - English
 Welsh is spoken in some parts
of Wales
Job opportunities
Opportunities vary across the country, but
include
 engineering
 health and care workers
 construction
 drivers – buses, heavy goods vehicles
 factory work
 chefs and hotel workers
 Agriculture
EURES website
 Find a job – search the vacancies in all EURES countries
 CV-online - register your CV for employers to see
 EURES advisers – details of 700 EURES advisers
www.eures.europa.eu
EURES website
Living and Working information
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accommodation and taxes
cost of living
health, education and social information
comparing qualifications
labour market information - by country and region
Learning
 education and training opportunities in Europe
 universities and colleges
Jobcentre Plus
People are strongly advised not to come to the UK
if you do not have a job to start
You must be able to speak English to work in the UK
 Search for jobs online
 Call the telephone jobs service,
Jobseeker Direct +44 (0) 845 6060 234
 Jobcentre Plus offices are self-service
with Jobpoint computers
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Looking for work
www.eures.europa.eu
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
 UK newspapers have internet jobs sites
www.newspapersonline.com
 Visit company websites for job vacancies, company
application forms and company information
 Private agencies – many are registered with the
Recruitment and Employers Confederation
www.rec.uk.com
 It is illegal for UK agencies to charge you a fee to
find a job
 www.yell.com for speculative applications
Graduates
 Good written and spoken English is essential
 It is hard to find media jobs
 Competition is very high
 Graduate vacancies are declining
 Many employers do not understand foreign qualifications
 The UK does not have many work placement opportunities
www.prospects.ac.uk
Qualifications and degrees
 Qualifications can differ in each European country
 Some qualifications are recognised across the
Europe
 Some professional people must apply for UK
recognition
 The National Academic Recognition Information
Centre, NARIC can compare your qualifications.
You will pay for this service
www.naric.org.uk
Vocational Qualifications
• www.nrp.org.uk
• In some cases, it may be possible to use qualifications from
abroad, Or,in cases where workers are skilled but do not
have formal qualifications, assessment methods such as
On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or Experienced
Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) can be used to
qualify to UK standards
• www.constructionmigrantworkers.co.uk
UK Employment Rights
• You are entitled to the same employment rights
as the domestic workforce. This includes:
• The National Minimum Wage
• Working Time Rights
• Health and Safety Protection
• The Right to Join a Union
• Protection from Unfair Discrimination
• Further information in other languages:
• www.tuc.org/tuc/rights
Employment conditions and law
 Minimum wage is £5.35 per hour @ 22+
about £214 per week or €316
 Working week is 37-40 hours
 Deductions can be made for accommodation (£29.05 per week max)
and transport
 Minimum holiday is four weeks - 20 days
 Wages are usually paid direct into a bank account
 20 minutes break allowed if you work 6+ hours each day
www.dti.gov.uk
www.acas.org.uk
National Minimum Wage helpline: 0845 600 0678
Employment Law
• Contracts can be written or verbal
• It is a legal requirement for you be provided with
either a contract of employment or a job
description in English and the migrant workers
native language within 8 weeks of them starting
work with you. Further guidance from
www.dti.gov.uk/employment or
www.businesslink.gov.uk
• Both the employer and employee are normally
entitled to a minimum period of notice of
termination of employment
Induction
• All workers should undergo a site induction
before commencing work. This should cover…
• Practices in the workplace
• The role of the worker
• Dealing with problems in the workplace
• Adapting to an unfamiliar culture or environment
• How to request assistance
• Information on medical facilities, trade unions etc
Further Information
• For employment legislation leaflets and to
resolve disputes contact:
www.acas.org.uk
• For further information also contact:
www.dti.gov.uk and
www.worksmart.org.uk
• For free, confidential, impartial advice
visit: www.cas.org.uk
• www.adviceguide.org.uk/cab_dealing_
with_grievances_polish.pdf
Income Tax
 Tax is deducted from source
 Most people pay the Basic rate 22%
 Income up to £2,150 is taxed at 10%
 Income over £33,300 is taxed at 40%
 P86 when you enter the UK
 P85 when you leave the UK
 For forms and information visit
www.hmrc.gov.uk
Council Tax
• Council Tax is paid to the council where
you live, to pay for local services
The amount you pay depends on your
accommodation and family circumstances.
It is £15 (€22) or more each week
• Council Tax may be included in your rent.
Check with your landlord
National Insurance
 National Insurance is deducted from wages (8-11%)
 The amount you pay depends on how much you earn
 Self-employed people must pay their own National
Insurance
National Insurance Number (NINO)
 Everyone working in the UK has a National
Insurance number
 You must apply for a number when you start work
 If you have worked in the UK before, you do not
need a new number
 Phone 0845 600 0643 to apply for a number
www.dwp.gov.uk
Bank Accounts
• To open an account on-line contact:
www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/currentaccounts/passport
• You require proof of identity when opening
a bank account – passport, letter from
your employer and proof of address
• If possible take information about your
home bank account (www.bba.org)
• Salaries are usually paid into a bank or
building society account.
E-forms (most commonly used)
 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – replaced
E111, used to receive state-provided healthcare in EEA
 E301 – record of working contributions. Request this form
from the UK authorities before returning to your own
country
 E303 – to claim unemployment benefits in another EEA
country for up to 3 months
 Available from the Centre for Non-residents tel: 0845
070040 (from the UK) +44 191 225 4811 (from abroad)
Health
For emergency medical treatment you should
bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
National Health Service – NHS
 When you are settled, register with a local doctor
 Consulting your local doctor is free but prescribed
medicines cost £6.65 (€ 9.82) per medicine
 You may have to pay for spectacles and dental
treatment
www.dh.gov.uk
NHS Direct 0845 46 47
Your earnings:example
If you earn £220 (€308) per week, you will pay:
 less Income Tax
£22 (€32)
less National Insurance £13 (€18)
 Rent (room)
£50
(€70)
 Council Tax
£15
(€21) or more
 The amount of Council Tax you pay depends on your
accommodation (it could be included in the rent)
 £20-£30 (€28-42) per week for food / living expenses
Accommodation
 Flats (Apartments) – furnished / unfurnished
£400-600 per month (€600 – 900)
 Houses - furnished / unfurnished
£500-£800 per month (€750 – 1,200)
 Rooms
£200-£350 per month (€300 – 525)
 You pay one month’s rent before you move in
 Large cities are more expensive and accommodation
can be difficult to find
Income-related benefits
• Child Benefit
www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit
• Working Tax Credit – further information at
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
• Housing Benefit –leaflet HBA5DWP “Help
with Your Rent”
• Council Tax Benefit – leaflet CTA5DWP
further information at www.dwp.gov.uk
Good luck!
Any questions?
[email protected]
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk