Recruitment

From Equality South West

General:

General information for businesses which employ migrant workers or who wish to employ migrant workers can be found here: BIA Home Office

The East of England Development Agency and the UK Border Agency have also produced a flowchart, with a glossary of terms, to help enable employers wishing to recruit migrant workers: Guidance (PDF)

Employment of A8 Nationals:

A8 workers include nationals from the Accession 8 group of states which joined the EU in May 2004, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. In most cases these workers must register under the Workers Registration Scheme in order to work in the UK. Information on employer responsibilities can be found here: UKBA

Employment of A2 Nationals:

A2 workers from Bulgaria and Romania (which joined the EU in 2007) do not have the same rights as other EU workers to work in the UK. There are three main routes for employing Bulgarian and Romanian workers:

  • Work Permits (for skilled migrants): Work Permits
  • Sector Based Scheme (a quota based scheme for the Food Processing Sector): Sector Based Scheme
  • Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (a quota based scheme for the agricultural sector): Seasonal Agricultural

EURES: The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES - the European network of Jobcentres provides advice and support on recruitment in the EU for employers wishing to directly recruit from the EU, including:

  • A dedicated Regional Advisor to support employers through the process of recruiting EU workers.
  • A web resource which allows employers to post job adverts which will go to all Jobcentres across the EU.
  • Organising European Job Fairs for employers to meet potential applicants.
  • Information on the EURES job portal can be found by clicking here: EURES

Employment of Non EEA Nationals:

Employers wishing to recruit workers from outside the European Economic Area (the EU plus Norway, Leitchenstein and Iceland) need to register as sponsors under the government's Points Based Immigration System. General information can be found here: Points Based System

Preventing Illegal Employment:

UK Border Agency Employers Helpline: 0300 123 4699. For more information click here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/preventingillegalworking

Business Link have produced an interactive tool which allows employers to check whether an applicant is eligible to work in the UK and to ascertain whether they have sufficient documentation to hire them: Interactive Tool

Recognition of Overseas Qualifications

NARIC - National Recognition Information Centre

NARIC is responsible for providing information and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide. This includes:

  • A benchmarking service enabling employers to check the qualifications of international applicants
  • Support for businesses to help them effectively process applications form applicants with international applicants
  • Training and support for organisations to develop their own skills and qualification frameworks

For more information click here: http://www.naric.org.uk/

Criminal Record Checks

The Criminal Records Bureau has produced guidance on checking the records of overseas applicants: http://www.crb.gov.uk/guidance/rb_guidance/overseas/overseas_applicants.aspx

Using Employment Agencies

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation represents recruitment agencies in the UK. Its members have to sign up to a Code of Practice, which covering international recruitment and diversity. A list of its members can be found here:Membership

To read the REC Code of Practice click here: CodeofPractise

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA): Employers in the agriculture, horticulture and food processing sectors, who wish to use agencies need to make sure that the agency in question is registered with the GLA. Further information can be found here: GLA

The National Europass Centre provides information for employers on how to use the Europass, a single set of documents which helps employers and training and education providers to assess an applicant's qualifications. To read more click here:Europass

English Self Assessment Tool

Individuals can check their level of English through this online tool: http://www.englishforlifeandwork.co.uk