We want to support new arrivals to build their lives in Wales. Being able to find a job is an important part of this process. Not everyone will have the right to work in the United Kingdom. The UK Government decides who is allowed to work in Wales. Before you can work you will need to have been given the right to work and be given a National Insurance Number.
If you do not have a visa or status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or you entered the UK as a tourist, you will not have the right to work in the UK.
It is important to ensure you have the correct permission to live and work in the UK. If you do not have the correct entitlements, controls exist to limit your access to work, accommodation and public services.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you should still have the right to volunteer with a charity, a Council or other government department. You can find out more about volunteering at the Volunteering Wales website.
Finding a job will not only increase your income but will help you settle into your new life.
Getting a job
To get help to find a job, you can:
• Look in local and national newspapers or recruitment websites where jobs are advertised
• Register with a recruitment agency who can find job vacancies for you
• Visit local companies to enquire about job vacancies
Applying for a job
Once you have identified a job you want to apply for, applications are usually made through an application form, or a CV (‘curriculum vitae’ - a formal list of your qualifications and experience) and a covering letter.
You can get careers advice and support from the Careers Wales. At Careers Wales they can help you to plan your career, prepare to get a job, and find and apply for the right apprenticeships, courses and training.
You can also access employment support from Working Wales. Working Wales will support you through these changing times with free advice, guidance and access to training to help you get into work or further your career.
Employers may also ask to see your documentation. From 1st July 2021 employers will ask to see your digital status to show evidence of your right to work in the UK. College diplomas and any other proof of your qualifications and experience will be helpful to show to employers. Employers may also ask for references from people who can verify your suitability for employment (such as a former manager, teacher or colleague).
Your rights and protection at work
When you go to work, you have the right to be treated fairly and work in a safe environment. You also have the right to be able to work without fear or harassment from your employer, colleagues or customers.
Every employer in the country must pay their employees a minimum amount per hour. How much this is, depends on how old you are. Please check www.gov.uk/nationalminimum-wage-rates for the most up-to-date information.
The terms and conditions of your work will be outlined in your contract. Make sure you read this carefully, with an interpreter if necessary, before you sign.
You can get further advice about your rights and Employer’s responsibilities by contacting ACAS on 0300 123 1100.
Equality and discrimination in the workplace
Organisations and businesses have a legal duty to treat everyone fairly in the workplace and in the way they recruit people for jobs. It is illegal to discriminate against anyone applying for a job or in the workplace on the basis of sex and gender reassignment, race, religion, being married or in a civil partnership, disability, age, sexual orientation or if they are pregnant.
Employers must therefore respect the needs of an employee as long as it does not interfere with the work they are employed to do.
If you think you have been unfairly discriminated against you can get further advice and support from the Equality Advisory Service: www.equalityadvisoryservice.com
If you are being forced to work or your employer isn’t willing to respect your rights, you can also get advice from the Modern Slavery Helpline by calling 0800 0121 700.
If you cannot find a job, you may need to apply for social security support (also known as welfare benefits). Visit the ‘Money’ section of this website for more information.
You and your family need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue to live, work and study in the UK after 30 June 2021. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 to be eligible, unless you are joining a close family member who already holds status under the scheme or is eligible and will apply to the scheme before 30 June 2021. Irish citizens or those with indefinite leave to remain or enter do not need to apply, but can if they want to.
You must have permission to live and work in the UK under the UK’s points-based immigration system unless you are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
In many cases this will mean applying for and being granted a Skilled Worker visa before coming to the UK.
To be eligible for the Skilled Worker route:
you must have a job offer from an employer who is able to sponsor your visa application
the job offer must be at the appropriate skill and salary level
you must be able to speak English to the required standard
There are other routes available for getting permission to work in the UK under the points-based system, such as an Intra-Company Transfer visa, a family member visa or the Global Talent route.
Until 30 June 2021, you can continue to prove your right to work in the UK using your passport or national ID card.
If your application to the EU Settlement Scheme is successful you will be given online access to your immigration status, which you can use to prove your right to work in the UK. You can do this using the online Right to Work service.
See more information about applying for a visa to come to the UK.
If you already have settled or pre-settled status, you will need to use that status to prove your right to work now (instead of your passport or national identity card), but it will only become mandatory to evidence your EU Settlement Scheme status after the 30 June 2021. If you have made an application and have not received a decision yet you will need to show proof of your certificate of application – you will have received this after making a valid application and is acceptable proof until you get a decision.
National Insurance Number
You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only. It’s made up of letters and numbers and never changes.
You can look for and start work without a National Insurance number if you can prove you can work in the UK. Employers are required to conduct mandatory Right to Work checks on all prospective employees. Having a National Insurance number is not part of these checks, and the possession of a National Insurance number does not prove that an individual has a right to work.
If you do not already have a National Insurance number, you only need to apply for one if you’re planning to:
work
claim benefits
apply for a student loan
pay Class 3 voluntary National Insurance contributions
As a European citizen and your non-European family members living in the UK, and have a professional qualification or are in the process of being recognised with professional qualifications before 31 December 2020, you will have those qualifications recognised in EU Member States.
As a European citizen, you will need to have submitted an application for recognition of those qualifications in the UK before 31 December 2020 for those qualifications to be recognised and to avoid being required to re-qualify in the UK.
Wales has a strong tradition of people helping one another, much of which is at a local level.
If you’d like to help, there are over 40,000 voluntary organisations here involved in a wide range of activities.
Groups are often small, set up and run by people wanting to do something together for their community. These activities – sporting, cultural, environmental, and social – are part of day-to-day life.
What is volunteering?
Volunteering is an activity which:
is undertaken by choice
is undertaken to be of public/ community benefit
is not undertaken for financial gain
How can I find a volunteering opportunity?
Volunteering Wales allows people to search for volunteering opportunities in their local area. You might need to register some details.
Otherwise, you could contact your local volunteer centre. They provide information, advice, and guidance on all aspects of volunteering.
Centre staff aim to link the skills and time of people with organisations.
For more information you can contact or visit your local volunteer centre.
Do I have to register on Volunteering Wales to volunteer?
No, but if you register you will see more opportunities.
First, register on the website and then apply for an opportunity of interest. Note, it is not enough to register on the platform without also signing up for a specific opportunity.
Will there be any checks?
Some volunteer roles may need a simple background check. Other roles may need an enhanced check, called an Enhanced DBS check. The opportunity should provide more details.
Where can I find more information?
More information is available on WCVA’s website: I want to volunteer