New Page 1
Accession Worker Cards1.Workers not exempt from the requirement to seek permission to work will need to hold an accession worker card or a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme work card in order to be legally employed in the United Kingdom. All applications for SAWS work are made to the operators direct!AU PAIRThe scheme allows a single person between 17 and 27 to come to the United Kingdom to study English. An accession worker card will be issued in respect of a specific job with a specific employer, provided that relevant qualifying criteria are met. Anybody who has been legally employed in the UK on a continuous basis for twelve months obtains community rights as a worker. Approved candidates are hired for a maximum period of 6 months, and should return to Bulgaria upon its expiration. Broadly, you are considered a self-employed person if you are in business on your own account and bear responsibility for the success or failure of that business. Can you decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services?3. Can you hire someone to do the work for you or engage helpers at your own expense?7. Can you provide the main items of equipment you need to do your job?4. Do you agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take?5. Do you regularly work for a number of different people?6. Employment cannot commence prior to the accession worker card being issued. Existing schemes for lower skilled work in these sectors will move to being restricted to workers from Bulgaria and Romania. Further information on how to make an application is now on the Home Office website. However, the criteria for the issue of such a document to a dependant spouse in these circumstances will not be subject to a skills test. If the holder of an accession worker card wishes to change employment, they will need to obtain a new accession worker card for that employment.2. If you can answer �Yes� to all of the following questions, it will usually mean that you are self-employed:1. If you fail to do so, you may not be considered self-employed. In addition, the place of study must be a recognised place of education on the Department of Education and Skills approved list. In order to do so, the Government has passed secondary legislation that places restrictions on nationals of those countries� access to the labour market. Individuals who commit this offence may be offered the opportunity to discharge their liability to prosecution through the payment of a fixed penalty of �1,000. Individuals who commit this offence may be offered the opportunity to discharge their liability to prosecution through the payment of a fixed penalty of 1000 pounds.|back | | home | Sofia 1000, 25 Khan Krum str. It will be an offence for a Bulgarian national, who is subject to the requirement to hold an accession worker card but does not have one, to take employment in the UK. Link to forms and guidanceFULL ACCESS TO LABOUR MARKET IN THE UKAs part of the gradual opening of the UK labour market a few individuals will be able to seek unrestricted access to UK labour market. People who want to join the scheme must apply to the Operators. Qualifying criteria are strict and are based on skills or relationship to UK nationals/settled persons. SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SCHEME (SAWS)The scheme allows Bulgarian nationals to enter the UK to do seasonal agricultural work for farmers and growers. The chosen course of study must lead to a recognised qualification. The employer will face a maximum fine upon conviction of 5000 pounds per worker. The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is different from the work permit arrangements because you do not need a specific job offer in the UK, or a detailed business plan to apply. The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme uses a standard point-scoring system, with 75 points required for success in the scoring area. The SAWS card is issued for the named individual on the work card only and any alterations, including use by another person, will render the work card invalid. The SAWS card may be obtained more than once provided that there has been a break of 3 months from the time of your previous employment under the scheme. The SAWS is managed through 9 authorised operators, which recruit workers and issue work cards. The status of self-employed will depend on the circumstances and character of your economic activity. The UK labour market will be opened gradually to citizens of Bulgaria and Romania who have the skills we need.�Since 1st January 2007, as European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, Bulgarians and Romanians have been able to move and reside freely in any Member State. There are certain categories of employment for which non-EEA nationals are not currently required to obtain a work permit (for example, sole representatives of overseas businesses, au pairs, employees of overseas governments and ministers of religion). They are enforced through fixed penalties (in the case of employees) and, where appropriate, prosecution.The accession regulations were approved in Parliament on 7th December 2006. They must apply to the Romania and Bulgaria Casework Team (as above) in Sheffield. This includes theapplication forms and guidance.WORKER AUTHORISATION SCHEME� We will require that workers from Bulgaria and Romania must, exempt where they are exempt from the requirement, obtain an accession worker card before they commence employment in the United Kingdom. Those falling into this category will be those who meet the existing criteria for admission under the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme, the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme and the Scottish Graduates Scheme. To be recognized as highly skilled migrant, the Bulgarian national should apply to the Bulgarian and Romanian Casework Team (as above) in Sheffield. Under the SAWS the worker will be allowed to work for the SAWS-registered farm as stated on the work card.Who are the SAWS operators? Useful addresses for more information:British Au Pair Agencies AssociationTrafalgar HouseGrenville PlaceLondon NW7 3SATel: +44 20 8906 3116Fax: +44 02 8906 3461Website:http://www.bapaa.org.uk/The International Au Pair Assn (IAPA)c/o FIYTOBredegade 25 HDK. You can live for up to 2 years as a member of an English-speaking family. You help in the home for up to five hours a day. You must apply for the scheme from outside the UK.