Working towards domestic bliss

A job in your home is one of the most important positions you can ever recruit for. Personal qualities such as trust, responsibility and loyalty are as essential as the applicant’s ability to do the job.

But what if you cannot find a suitable candidate in the UK? Although domestic positions, particularly those involving the care of children or the elderly, are often skilled and qualified roles, they have never been eligible for work permits. The criminal penalties have always made ‘illegal’ employment unthinkable. But help is now on its way.

The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU earlier this year has widened the pool, making it much easier to recruit au pairs, nannies and home help from these countries and bring them to the UK to work. Although there are still some restrictions (the government is keen to discourage ‘mass migration’), the process is considerably easier than under the usual ‘domestic worker’ provisions, which still apply to all non-EU nationals. Instead of prospective candidates having to demonstrate a track record of having worked overseas for you for at least the previous year, they will be permitted to come to the UK and work simply by showing a special ‘Accession Card’ proving their nationality and eligibility.

For further information on the new pension rules, please contact:

Jennifer Lambe
Tel +44 (0)20 7440 7136
jennifer.lambe@mishcon.com