Legal News

European Union Nationals

UK based employers who employ European Union nationals are under specific obligations to adhere to stringent ‘record keeping’ of the European Union nationals (including any other foreign nationals) whom they employ in their businesses. Should the UK Border Agency (Home Office) visit a certain premises at any given unannounced time, and find the employer has insufficient records on their foreign national employees (ie contact details, immigration status etc), then they face a fine of up to £10,000 per employee for non-compliance with the immigration rules.

Furthermore, it appears that some European Union nationals are unaware of the need for them to register under the Worker Registration Scheme in the first instance and continue to be employed by UK based businesses unaware of their obligations to the Home Office to keep specific and detailed information on the migrants at the business premises. Some UK based employers continue to employ EU workers on the premise they are already registered with the Home Office without making adequate checks, which in some instances make them liable of a fine of up to £10,000 as per above.

For further information and guidance, please refer to http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/ website.