Arrival
On 1 May 2004 8 new countries joined the European Union. As an EU Citizen
you therefore have the right to work in the United Kingdom. You should apply
to register with the Home Office Worker Registration Scheme as soon as
you have started a new job.
You will find under related documents the leaflet about what your rights are
in the UK. This includes information on what you should do before leaving your
home country, and important contact details at home and the UK.
The leaflet only covers the main points and you are advised to contact other
organisations for further queries. In the UK you can approach the Advisory,
Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), or the Trades Union Congress
(TUC) for advice – you do not have to be a member of a British trade union.
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) are another good source of help. You will find
a list of useful contacts at the end of the leaflet.
The following issues are some of the details contained in the leaflet:
How do I register to work in the UK?
As soon as you start working in the UK you must complete application form
WRS giving your name, address, date of birth, nationality and employment
details. You can get an application form and more information by telephoning
08705 210 224 or visiting www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk or www.workingintheuk.
gov.uk.
With your first application you will need to send a letter from your employer
confirming that you are working, two passport photos, your passport or ID
card and a payment of £90. If you do not apply within one month of starting a
job your employment will become illegal.
What are temporary work agencies?
One way of finding work in the UK is through a temporary work agency,
either based in Poland or in the UK.
Temporary work agencies provide workers to ‘user companies’. The agency
recruits the workers, pays their
wages and may provide accommodation and transport. The actual work,
however, is done for the user company and that company decides how the
work is carried out. So if you enter into a contract with a temporary agency
it will pay your wages making any necessary deductions for tax and
National Insurance. Meanwhile the agency has entered into a contract with a
company to supply temporary workers to it. You will work for that company,
and be subject to its control and direction.
How much will I be paid?
Nearly all workers aged 16 years or over, who have left school, are entitled
to the National Minimum Wage(NMW). If you are 16 or 17 years old you must
receive at least £3 an hour. If you are 18, 19, 20 or 21 years old you must
receive at least £4.25 an hour and if you are aged 22 or over you must
receive at least £5.35 an hour. These rates are likely to be increased in
October 2007.
If you are hired to do agricultural work you are entitled to the Agricultural
Minimum Wage. In England and Wales you must be paid at least £5.35 an
hour if you are a basic grade agricultural worker and are 19 years old or
older. If you have specific qualifications, work with animals, or operate
machinery you must be paid at least £5.58 an hour. If you work more than 39
hours a week on a farm, you are entitled to overtime pay which is one and a
half times your basic hourly wage.
All the hourly rates above are revised from time to time. Different rates of
Agricultural Minimum Wage apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you
are in doubt, ring the contact numbers listed at the end of this leaflet. You
are strongly advised to keep a record of the hours you worked.
Will I have to pay UK tax and National Insurance?
UK tax will be payable on your wages for UK work. Your employer will make
the necessary arrangements and deduct the money from your wages.
When you work in the UK, either with an agency or a direct employer you will
have to pay UK social security contributions (known as National Insurance) to
the UK. Your employer will make the necessary arrangements and deduct the
money from your wages. If you are liable to pay National Insurance you will
need a UK National Insurance number. If you do not have a National
Insurance number, you should contact Jobcentre Plus to apply for one.
you therefore have the right to work in the United Kingdom. You should apply
to register with the Home Office Worker Registration Scheme as soon as
you have started a new job.
You will find under related documents the leaflet about what your rights are
in the UK. This includes information on what you should do before leaving your
home country, and important contact details at home and the UK.
The leaflet only covers the main points and you are advised to contact other
organisations for further queries. In the UK you can approach the Advisory,
Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), or the Trades Union Congress
(TUC) for advice – you do not have to be a member of a British trade union.
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) are another good source of help. You will find
a list of useful contacts at the end of the leaflet.
The following issues are some of the details contained in the leaflet:
How do I register to work in the UK?
As soon as you start working in the UK you must complete application form
WRS giving your name, address, date of birth, nationality and employment
details. You can get an application form and more information by telephoning
08705 210 224 or visiting www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk or www.workingintheuk.
gov.uk.
With your first application you will need to send a letter from your employer
confirming that you are working, two passport photos, your passport or ID
card and a payment of £90. If you do not apply within one month of starting a
job your employment will become illegal.
What are temporary work agencies?
One way of finding work in the UK is through a temporary work agency,
either based in Poland or in the UK.
Temporary work agencies provide workers to ‘user companies’. The agency
recruits the workers, pays their
wages and may provide accommodation and transport. The actual work,
however, is done for the user company and that company decides how the
work is carried out. So if you enter into a contract with a temporary agency
it will pay your wages making any necessary deductions for tax and
National Insurance. Meanwhile the agency has entered into a contract with a
company to supply temporary workers to it. You will work for that company,
and be subject to its control and direction.
How much will I be paid?
Nearly all workers aged 16 years or over, who have left school, are entitled
to the National Minimum Wage(NMW). If you are 16 or 17 years old you must
receive at least £3 an hour. If you are 18, 19, 20 or 21 years old you must
receive at least £4.25 an hour and if you are aged 22 or over you must
receive at least £5.35 an hour. These rates are likely to be increased in
October 2007.
If you are hired to do agricultural work you are entitled to the Agricultural
Minimum Wage. In England and Wales you must be paid at least £5.35 an
hour if you are a basic grade agricultural worker and are 19 years old or
older. If you have specific qualifications, work with animals, or operate
machinery you must be paid at least £5.58 an hour. If you work more than 39
hours a week on a farm, you are entitled to overtime pay which is one and a
half times your basic hourly wage.
All the hourly rates above are revised from time to time. Different rates of
Agricultural Minimum Wage apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you
are in doubt, ring the contact numbers listed at the end of this leaflet. You
are strongly advised to keep a record of the hours you worked.
Will I have to pay UK tax and National Insurance?
UK tax will be payable on your wages for UK work. Your employer will make
the necessary arrangements and deduct the money from your wages.
When you work in the UK, either with an agency or a direct employer you will
have to pay UK social security contributions (known as National Insurance) to
the UK. Your employer will make the necessary arrangements and deduct the
money from your wages. If you are liable to pay National Insurance you will
need a UK National Insurance number. If you do not have a National
Insurance number, you should contact Jobcentre Plus to apply for one.