| Filipino seafarers with transit visas not allowed to work in UK |
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| Aug 11, 2009 at 09:20 AM | |
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The United Kingdom’s Border Agency recently announced that Filipino seafarers who have been issued transit visas are not allowed to work in the UK fishing industry. Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili said that the UK transit visas are basically temporary visas for non-European Union seafarers, including Filipinos joining vessels in the UK, which are bound for foreign ports or traveling international waters for a longer period. On the other hand, those seeking to work legally in the UK fishing industry must posses valid work visas. Their employment contracts must also be fully compliant with UK employment law and standards, particularly on the minimum wage, the POEA added. The UK Border Agency reported that some Filipino seafarers working as fishermen in Scotland and Northern Ireland receive salaries below the UK national minimum wage, and are living in harbors and onboard fishing vessels. In a related development, the British Embassy in Manila reported that it is now implementing a new point-based system in assessing applications for permission to enter the United Kingdom. The new system replaces some 80 ways to work and study in the UK and consists of five (5) tiers: Tier 1 for highly skilled workers ; Tier 2 for skilled workers with job offer; Tier 3 for low skilled workers filling specific temporary labor shortages; tier 4 for students; and Tier 5 for youth mobility and temporary workers. ### |
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| Last Updated ( Sep 11, 2009 at 09:24 AM ) |
