New information on EU Accession State (A8) workers in the UK

On 27 February 2007 the latest report on workers from the A8 States that joined the European Union in 2004 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) was published by the UK Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions and other government departments.

The government states in the report 'Nationals from the A8 countries continue to come to the UK to work, contributing to the success of the UK economy, while making few demands on our welfare system'. 

The report shows that 63,000 workers from the A8 States applied under the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) in the last three months of 2006. Increasingly, A8 workers are apply to work in different parts of the UK. Only 10% of those who applied in the last three months of 2006 are working in London. The greater proportion are applying to work in the Midlands.

The report states that A8 workers are working particularly in administration, business and management, hospitality and catering, agriculture, manufacturing and food, fish and meat processing. They are also contributing actively to public services in the UK, working as teachers, dentists, doctors and nurses. The workers are mostly young: 82% are under 34, and 94% are on their own. Only 4% have brought children with them.

Ten countries joined the EU on 1 May 2004. Nationals of two of these, Cyprus and Malta, already enjoyed the same rights of free movement as other European Union nationals. Nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia (the 'A8') who wish to work for an employer in the UK are required to register employment they take for the first 12 months of work in the UK unless they already have rights to work in the UK (for example if they are settled here). Rights to work in self-employment are not affected. I

f you are an A8 national you must register your employment within one month of starting work for a new employer. Registration authorises work for that employer, not for other people. If you change employers, you will need to register again although you will not be asked to pay the registration fee more than once. After working continuously for a year under the scheme, you will be able to apply for a residence permit like any other European Union national.

Stricter requirements apply to nationals of Romania and Bulgaria who joined the EU on 1 January 2007 and whose access to the UK labour market is more strictly limited.