ContractStore Legal Business Blog

The UK Border Agency (part of the Home Office) has announced that from “the end of November” employers who wish to employ skilled migrant workers from countries outside the EEA (i.e. the countries of the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland must first apply for a licence. Charities and small businesses must pay £300 for a licence and all other employers will be charged £1,000.

In addition employers must obtain a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ for each migrant worker at a cost of £170 per certificate. Breach of these regulations may lead to civil or criminal penalties. Employers who wish to apply for a licence are urged to do so before 1st October.

A more detailed guide to this complex area can be found here

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The OFT (Office of Fair Trading) has today approved a scheme to deal with complaints about estate agents -as if they don’t have enough problems with the housing slump!

Buyers and sellers of residential property will, from October, be able to refer complaints concerning members of the scheme to an ombudsman, which will have the power to make a range of awards, including requiring a member of the scheme to pay compensation. The ombudsman’s decision is binding on the estate agent, although a complainant can choose to reject the decision and pursue their complaint through the courts. The SOS approved redress scheme will be a free service to complainants. From 1 October it will become compulsory for all estate agents dealing with residential property in the UK to join such a scheme.

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