Foreign workers encouraged to know their rights

The Government has launched an initiative to encourage foreign workers coming to the UK to be aware of their employment rights.

The initiative is in the form of employment rights leaflets that give information to potentially vulnerable workers from specific countries about employment rights and tax and National Insurance responsibilities under UK employment law.

Leaflets have been produced for Polish and Lithuanian workers, following the release of one for Portuguese workers in 2003.

  • Government launches advice leaflets for overseas workers   Michael Millar of Personnel Today reports.

  • Guide for Polish workers: English version (PDF format) and Polish version (PDF format)   Read the full text of the guide for Polish workers on the DTI website.

  • Guide for Lithuanian workers: English version (PDF format) and Lithuanian version (PDF format)   Read the full text of the guide for Polish workers on the DTI website.

  • Guide for Portuguese workers: English version and Portuguese version   Read the full text of the guide for Portuguese workers on the DTI website.

    Also

    Employers' duties towards non-national workers   A Labour Court decision has awarded €15,000 to a Nigerian woman who was dismissed by her employer following the accusation that she had stolen bananas. European Industrial Relations Review reports.

    Employing foreign nationals: the basics   XpertHR's employment law reference manual has guidance on employing foreign nationals.

    Documentation acceptable as proof of right to work in UK - acceptable combination of documents; Documentation acceptable as proof of right to work in UK - acceptable single documents; and Proof of right to work in the UK - copying/recording of documents requirements   From XpertHR's quick reference section.

    How to employ foreign nationals and How to make job offers  Practical guidance from XpertHR's How to service.

    Legal Q&A: Employing foreign nationals (1) and  Legal Q&A: Employing foreign nationals (2)   From Personnel Today and personneltoday.com, respectively.