The Government has announced that the Worker Registration Scheme will close on 30 April 2011. Currently, nationals of what are referred to as the ‘A8’ countries must register under the scheme if they commence employment in the UK.
The Worker Registration Scheme is a transitional scheme, which was introduced in 2004 when the following countries (known as the ‘A8’ countries) joined the European Union: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The scheme was set up to allow the Government to monitor where A8 citizens are coming into the labour market, the type of work they are doing, and their economic impact. Between May 2004 and the end of 2010, 1.1 million A8 nationals registered under the scheme.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Accession, the UK cannot apply transitional restrictions on A8 nationals’ access to the labour market for more than seven years. This means that A8 nationals will be able to access the labour market on the same terms as other EU Nationals (except Bulgarians and Romanians) from 1 May 2011. A8 work-seekers will also have the same entitlements to out-of work benefits as other EU Nationals. Guidance for employers and individuals affected will be published soon by the UK Border Agency.
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