"DEPART
GROUP
SMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT
DEPARTMENT
Guide for Employers Employment of overseas nationals
(Training and Work Experience Scheme)
in the United Kingdom
■ General
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This leaflet gives advice on how to apply to the Department for permission for an overseas national to come to Great Britain* for training or work experience with your organisation. Another leaflet (OW5) gives advice on applying for permission for an overseas worker to take up ordinary employment.
The main purpose is to help developing countries by allowing their citizens to come here for a limited period of training or work experience which is not readily available to them in their own country but which may be put to use there.
Permits may be issued for limited periods of on-the- job training leading to an occupational skill or professional qualification.
The scheme also allows young nationals of non- European Community countries to come here for a limited period to develop their industrial or commercial experience, and as a secondary objective, to improve their knowledge of the English language if necessary.
5 Approval may be given to an overseas national to
participate in training or work experience only if the Department is satisfied that the overseas national intends to return abroad on completion of the training. It must be clearly understood and accepted by both employer and trainee that a transfer to ordinary employment after the training period will not be allowed. The trainee after returning abroad will be expected to put to use the skills learned here, for at least two years, before an application under the main work permit scheme can be considered.
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The Department must also be satisfied that the overseas national has an adequate knowledge of the English language.
*Applications for permission to take on overseas
nationals for training or work experience in Northern Ireland should be made to the Department of Economic Development, Work Permits Branch, Netherleigh, Massey Avenue, Belfast BT4 2JP, telephone 0232 63244.
☐ What are the rules that apply to
training?
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The training you offer should:
lead to an occupational skill or professional qualification†:
be of a type and standard approved by the Department;
not be readily available in the overseas national's home country but will be of use there;
be for a fixed length of time agreed in advance;
be for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
†Approval does not cover any additional course of study after the trainee has qualified.
8 Any formal qualifications to be gained from the
training must be:
■ clearly set out;
recognised in the overseas national's home country. The overseas national should be able to practise as a professional in his/her own home country without undertaking further professional examinations.
Otherwise, the purpose of the training must be clearly stated.
9 The overseas national must:
be clearly suitable for, and able to benefit from the training (in deciding this we will take into account previous examination results);
■ have the educational or professional qualifications needed to enter the course of training;
be between the ages of 18 and 54 years.
OW 21 (Revised March 89)