Brief Brexit check-up

Whilst we all wait in limbo for the UK’s future in Europe, it is still worth noting some basics…

• The settled status scheme is still in place for EU nationals currently living and working in the UK – if the UK leaves without a deal, the deadline for applying for settled status is 31 December 2020, and if a deal is struck it will be 30 June 2021.  It is estimated that only 1 million EU nationals have applied under the scheme and 2.6 million have still to do to so. 
• Given those figures, employers should continue to encourage employed EU nationals to apply under the settlement scheme and provide, where possible, the electronic means for them to do so and agree to reasonable requests for time off to get documents verified etc.
• Employers will need to address what their recruitment strategy will be going forward if their previous one has depended on the free movement of EU nationals – whilst those workers who are already employed may stay (subject to them applying for settled status) it is likely, whatever the deal, that there will be some restrictions going forward.

Further information

If you have any questions about these issues please contact Hazel Findlay, our immigration specialist in the employment and pensions team.

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