The Government is consulting over immigration fees, and in particular whether the migrant workers and those employing them should make an appropriate contribution towards the cost of running the immigration system. Consultation closes 3 December 2013 and it could mean that fees will go up.
On New Year’s Day, the restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers coming here to work are lifted so that they will have full access to the job market for the first time. Until then, workers have been required to comply with immigration controls, such as having a sponsor and a job to go to. Some MPs are worried that there will be an influx of workers and have asked for the restrictions to be extended. The Government has confirmed that this will not be possible and will not happen.
New guidance on the ending of these restrictions is set out in the Home Office’s updated publication, Full guide for employers on preventing illegal working in the UK which does what it says it does – guides employers on what checks must be carried out when recruiting and employing staff.