The Government has today announced that it will seek to continue the Workers' Registration Scheme for new migrants from the so-called A8 countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanian).
The scheme requires workers from these countries to register with the UK Border Agency in their first year of employment in the UK.
Commenting on the decision, Tom Hadley, the RECís Director of External Relations, said: Extending the scheme is unlikely to impact on the number of migrants from certain European countries. What it does do is add administrative burdens on recruitment agencies at a time when they should be putting their energies into what they do best, placing people in work.
ìThe REC is particularly disappointed that the Home Office has waited until the last minute to make this decision, thus creating further disruptions to agencies who need to plan for this change. We call upon the Home Office to put its house in order and start making immigration decisions within a timeframe which is realistic for business planning.
The REC sits on the Home Office Business Advisory Panel and a consultative group for the introduction of the points based system for immigration. Concern about the lack of clear guidance from the Home Office is one of the issues that members have raised at RECís ëOn the Roadí events.
Continuation of the Workers' Registration Scheme will burden recruiters, says REC
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