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Supporting EU Employees Political uncertainty and the differentiation of EU workers who have long been present in the UK is a very real issue affecting employee wellbeing
O
n 16 January, Chamber members and organisations from the retail,
finance, legal, consulting, tourism, and banking industries came together to discuss the latest on the impact of Brexit on professional services, individuals and businesses. Speakers were Oliver O’Sullivan, Associate, and Gareth Wadley, Partner, of Gateley PLC. The event was chaired by Angela Hepworth, Corporate Policy and Regulation Director, EDF Energy, Neil Sherlock CBE, Partner, Senior Adviser of PwC. The Forum heard that Brexit, in
UK for that length of time. ‘Pre-settled’
a new immigration regime that might
the form it finally takes, will have a
status will be issued for five years, but
restrict the roles being undertaken from
significant impact on employers who
the moment a holder of this status has
talent from the EU.
have relied on labour from the EU.
been in the UK for five years (including
In their presentation, Gareth Wadley
The future immigration proposals
time before the issue of this current
in the Home Office's white paper would
and Oliver O’Sullivan highlighted the
status) they will be allowed to apply for
bring changes whereby the recruitment
key changes to be expected in UK
'settled' status. 'Settled' status means
of EU nationals from January 2021
immigration law over the next two
that the individual has a permanent
would become far more expensive and
years, and how these changes relate to
right to live in the UK beyond Brexit.
far more restrictive in relation to the
current workforces and workforce plans for the future.
New applications can be made for
'skill' level of the job and the salary on
those who are resident in the UK before
offer. Many ‘lower-skilled’ jobs being
31 December 2020, although this could
undertaken by EU nationals at minimum
EU to the UK looks certain to end. In
be brought forward to 29 March 2019,
or living wage would be impossible to
both ‘deal' and ‘no deal’ scenarios, the
or whichever date the UK leaves the EU,
offer to workers from outside the UK
change would be expected at the end
in the event of a 'no deal'.
from 2021.
Free movement of labour from the
of 2020, after which a new immigration system will apply to EU citizens. The Home Office are slowly rolling
The speakers advised assessing
Gareth and Oliver stressed the
current workforces to see which
importance of planning in terms of
employees might be eligible for either
UK-based roles to assess how they fit
out a scheme to enable EU nationals in
'pre-settled' or 'settled status' and
with these future immigration rules. It
the UK to apply for either ‘settled’ status
evaluating how they can be assisted. It is
is likely these changes will impact how
on the basis of having lived in the UK for
also sensible to evaluate the roles being
companies develop UK talent and/or
at least five years, or ‘pre-settled' status
undertaken by EU nationals at present
the location of business operations that
where they have not yet lived in the
to assess the impact on the business of
require low-skilled EU workers. I
Free movement of labour from the EU to the UK looks certain to end. In both ‘deal' and ‘no deal’ scenarios, the change would be expected at the end of 2020, after which a new immigration system will apply to EU citizens 12 - info - spring 2019
