Government launches employer toolkit about UK Settlement Scheme

The government has issued a toolkit to help employers support EU staff and their families apply for settled status. It signposts where users can find information including leaflets, posters, presentations, videos and guidance.

The introduction states that, under the EU Settlement Scheme, employers:

• have a duty not to discriminate against EU citizens

• are not expected to pay/support the cost of the scheme application for their EU citizen employees, but are welcome to do so at their own discretion

• have no legal obligation to communicate the scheme, but may wish to signpost the information

• do not have to interpret government information and must not provide immigration advice

The document also says that current "right to work" checks (eg EU passport and/or national ID card) apply until the end of 2020 and there will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens living in the UK until 2021.

UK Settlement Scheme

Information about the scheme is available here. The government has started to phase it in but has said that it won't be fully open until March 2019.

Need more information?

Please contact our employment expert: Dr Sybille Steiner, Partner Solicitor & Rechtsanwältin: 44 (0)207 421 3969 or sybille.steiner@irwinmitchell.com

Our immigration experts: Ben Xu : ben.xu@irwinmitchell.com or  +44 (0)207 399 0937 and Mandeep Khroud: mandeep.Khroud@irwinmitchell.com  or +44 (0)207 6503818.