and 25% (respectively) increase since 1984/85. During 1990 over 76% of all applications under TWES were approved.
FUNCTION OF TWES
7 TWES is used for various reasons. The employer may wish to train an individual in a UK qualification for redeployment abroad in their own or an associate company or because they feel that offering a training post will help develop business contacts abroad. Developing countries sponsor their nationals to train for skills needed in their country. The overseas national may wish to obtain a UK qualification because it is considered to be superior and has wider recognition world wide; or may want training for a qualification or at a required level which is not available at home. In many cases it is the natural continuation of academic study undertaken in the UK.
8 Work experience is used by UK employers who wish to give their own personnel abroad a short period of career development or who recruit for posts abroad but want the individual to have experience in the UK first. It is widely used for fostering commercial opportunities abroad by offering work experience to staff from overseas customers, contacts etc. Overseas companies send employees here for specific
experience.
9 A number of Overseas Governments have entered into special arrangements with Overseas Labour Section (OLS) to allow their nationals periods of work experience usually on a reciprocal basis. Many Student Exchange Schemes and charitable bodies use the work experience provisions of TWES to foster international links. TWES is expected to have a particular part to play in assisting Eastern European countries develop their labour force and build up contacts with the West.
10 Work experience is also used by overseas students who wish to spend some time in the UK for practical work associated with their studies or to improve their English.
RECOMMENDATIONS
11
The following recommendations acknowledge the need update the detailed rules of TWES, to simplify the burdensome bureaucratic procedures of the present system and to ensure that in doing so firm control is exercised on immigration and settlement.
(1) On-the-job training should continue to be available to help overseas nationals receive training in the UK which is not available to them at home. In this way it will still be possible for overseas nationals from developing countries to obtain qualifications and skills on the strict understanding that they will return home on the completion of training. However, training should not
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