PART 1: COUNTRY PROFILE
Conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Conventional short form: United Kingdom
Abbreviation: UK
The biggest part of the United Kingdom (also called the U.K.) is the island of Great Britain, comprising England, Wales, and Scotland. The U.K. also includes Northern Ireland, which is on another island. Northern Ireland is just 12 miles from the island of Great Britain, across the North Channel of the Irish Sea.
Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of the U.K., covered in knife-edged mountain ridges separated by deep valleys. This terrain was shaped some 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age when thick glaciers covered the land. When the Ice Age glaciers melted in northwest Scotland, they left behind thousands of lakes called lochs. Long and narrow, some of the lochs are very deep. The largest freshwater lake by surface area in the UK, Lough Neagh, is in Northern Ireland. It stretches 20 miles long and nine miles wide. Rolling hills and plains dot the countryside of both Northern Ireland and England.
The United Kingdom's climate is influenced by its geographical location and atmospheric circulation patterns. The country's position between the European landmass and warm Atlantic waters exposes it to air masses with varying thermal and moisture characteristics. The main air masses are polar and tropical, with some being maritime or continental. The weather depends on disturbances within mid-latitude westerlies, which bring mostly polar maritime and occasionally tropical maritime air.
The mean annual temperature ranges from 46°F in the Hebrides to 52°F in southwestern England. Rain-producing atmospheric systems arrive from a westerly direction, with some peaks receiving up to 200 inches of rainfall per year. Rain is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with June being the driest month and May being the next driest. The wettest months are typically October, December, and August, but almost any month can be the wettest. Some precipitation falls as snow, increasing with altitude and from southwest to northeast.
As of 2023, the UK has a population of 68 million, with England being the largest city. The country has a low birth and death rate, indicating a dependence on migration for future growth. London is the largest city, with 9.3 million people. The UK ranks among the top 10 percent in demographic development and 13th on the latest Human Development Index.
As of 2021, approximately 52.6 million people in England and Wales speak English (or Welsh in Wales) as their primary language, around 91.1 percent of the population. The most common non-English language spoken in England and Wales as of 2021 was Polish, which had 611,845 speakers, followed by Romanian, with 471,954 speakers, and Panjabi, with 290,745 speakers.
The UK’s official religion is Christianity, and churches of all denominations, such as Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and Methodist, can be found throughout the country. Other religions are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system in which the centralized Parliament of the United Kingdom holds the ultimate legislative power. The Prime Minister is the head of the executive branch, while the monarch, King Charles III, serves as head of state in a more ceremonial capacity. Next to the central government of the UK, three of the four member countries, namely Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, have their devolved national administrations. The three national administrations all consist of an executive body and a legislative institution with different levels of authority. Power is delegated to the devolved administrations by the central parliament and can be withdrawn or limited at any time. General elections in the UK use a First Past the Post system to determine the 650 Members of Parliament, and the leader of the party or coalition with the most seats is usually named Prime Minister. Parliamentary sessions or terms generally last for five years, although early elections can be called with two-thirds support in the House of Commons vote. The minimum voting age in the UK is 18 years, although it is 16 years in local elections in Scotland.
The United Kingdom also has one of the world’s most developed economies. Its 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars GDP makes it the fifth-largest economy globally and the second-largest in Europe. The country’s currency is the British Pound Sterling (GBP), with the Bank of England as the central bank. The UK is a net importer of goods, with a trade balance deficit of almost 300 billion U.S. dollars. The UK has fallen outside the top 10 leading exporters in recent years and is now ranked 15th globally and seventh in Europe. The European Union is the UK’s largest trading partner; however, the U.S. receives the largest share of any individual country. Between 2019 and 2023, the national debt rose from 2.4 to 3.4 trillion U.S. dollars, while unemployment slowly rose across the first half of 2023.
Across the UK, there are five stages of education: early years, primary, secondary, further education (FE) and higher education (HE). Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16. FE is not mandatory and covers non-advanced education, which can be taken at further (including tertiary) education colleges and HE institutions (HEIs). The fifth stage, HE, is studying beyond GCE A levels and their equivalent, which, for most full-time students, takes place in universities and other HEIs and colleges.
Early Years Education
Since September 2010, all three and four-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. This education takes place in various settings, including state nursery schools, nursery classes, and reception classes within primary schools, as well as voluntary pre-schools, privately run nurseries, or childminders. The Education Act 2002 extended the National Curriculum for England to include the Foundation Stage, which covered children's education from the age of 3 to the end of the reception year. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) came into force in September 2008, providing a single regulatory and quality framework for learning, development, and care for children in all registered early years settings. In Wales, children are entitled to a free part-time place the term following a child's third birthday until they enter statutory education. In Scotland, education typically starts with pre-school, with local authorities securing part-time funded places for every child starting from the beginning of the school term after the child's third birthday.
Primary
Primary education comprises three age ranges: nursery, infant, and junior. There is no distinction between infant and junior schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Wales, the Foundation Phase combines Early Years and Key Stage 1 to create one phase for children aged three to seven. Primary schools typically cater to 4-11 year-olds, with mixed classes. Students usually transfer to secondary school at age 11 or 12, with some transitioning to middle schools. Assessments occur at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Secondary
In England, secondary education consists of various types of schools, with comprehensive schools essentially admitting pupils without reference to ability or aptitude. Academies, publicly funded independent schools, offer greater freedoms to innovate and raise standards, including freedom from local authority control, staff pay, curriculum delivery, and term lengths. The Academies Programme was introduced in 2000 to replace poorly performing schools and was expanded in 2010 to allow all maintained primary, secondary, and special schools to apply. Secondary schools in Wales take pupils at 11 years old until statutory school age and beyond. In Scotland, education authority secondary schools offer six years of secondary education, with some two-year and four-year schools in remote areas. At the end of secondary education, pupils are entered for external examinations, such as GCSE and Standard Grades in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
Further Education
Further education (FE) refers to non-advanced courses taken after compulsory education, distinct from higher education offered in universities. It can range from basic skills training to higher vocational education. FE in the UK includes education for people over 16, excluding universities, and is primarily taught in FE colleges, work-based learning, and adult and community learning institutions. FE courses may also be offered in the school sector. FE is part of a more expansive learning and skills sector in England, overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills since June 2009.
Higher Education
Higher education (HE) is defined as courses of a higher standard than GCE A level, Higher Grade of the SCE/National Qualification, GNVQ/NVQ level 3, or Edexcel. There are three primary levels of HE courses: postgraduate courses leading to higher degrees, undergraduate courses including first degrees, and other undergraduate courses. The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 designated former polytechnics and some other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as universities in 1992/93. Students typically attend HE courses at HEIs or FE colleges.
The British National Anthem, 'God Save The King,' was first performed in London in 1745, marking Prince Charles Edward Stuart's victory at Prestonpans. The song, which became the national anthem, was a popular patriotic song and was repeated nightly in theaters. Today, the words and tune are a tradition, with no authorized version and only the first verse sung on official occasions.
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King!
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign!
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King!
PART 2: IMMIGRATION POLICIES
A UK visa is the authorizing document that gives worldwide citizens the right to enter, stay temporarily, or live permanently in the territory of the UK. It is usually either a stamp you receive in your passport or a document given by a UK consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
Work and Business Visas
The UK offers Working Visas, especially for high-end professionals from other countries who wish to work and live in the UK for shorter or longer periods.
Categories of work and business visas
● Highly qualified foreigners:
● Global Talent Visa
● Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area
● UK Senior Specialist Worker Visa
● UK International Sportsperson Visa
● UK Minister of Religion Visa
● Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers
● Government Authorized Exchange Visa
● UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
● Others:
● Domestic Worker Visa
● Exempt Vignette Visa
● UK Business Visas
Student Visas
These types of visas are issued to international students who want to study in the UK.
Categories of student visas
● Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
● Tier 4 (General) Student Visa
● Short Term Study Visa
Tourist and Visiting visas
The UK is a very popular tourism destination for shorter or even longer periods of visits. UK Visitor Visas are issued for short stays, tourism visits, and similar purposes. UK authorities rarely issue a tourist visa for a longer period than six months. Foreign nationals are prohibited from getting a job inside the UK with this type of visa, just as with many other types. Short business trips are handled the same way.
Categories of tourist and visiting visas
● Marriage Visitor Visa
● Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
● Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
● Short-term Study Visa
● UK Visitor Visa
● Visa for a Chinese Tour Group
Family Visas
The UK Family Visa is issued to visit family members in the UK. This Visa type is for people with family members who are working and living in the UK and wanting to join them for more than six months as their dependents. The dependents can be a spouse, partner, fiancé, proposed civil partner, children, parents, or other family members.
Categories of family visas
● UK Spouse visa
● UK Parent visa
● UK Child visa
Transit Visas
The UK Transit Visa is for foreigners who are not from the EEA (EU countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) or Switzerland and are using the UK as a transit country to pass from another country to their destination. This visa offers the opportunity to apply for a long-term transit visa if the applicant has enough evidence that he needs to travel regularly through the UK to arrive at his destination but has no intention to stay or live there permanently. Such long-term transit visas can be given for 1 to 10 years.
Categories of transit visas
● Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) – for those who have to change flights in the UK without leaving the airport
● Visitor in Transit Visa – for foreigners who have to leave the airport and take another means of travel, of making a part of their traveling through the land. This visa can be valid for up to 4 days.
Refugee Visa
A Temporary Refugee Visa is for people who are about to enter the UK and are at the borders because they had to leave their country because their lives were seriously threatened. The application for this visa is made from within the UK.
The visa is temporary until the visa holder is no longer endangered and can return to their country. The Visa for Stateless Persons is for foreigners living in the UK who are not nationals of any other country. This visa is given for 2 to 6 years and can be extended.
UK Residence Permits
The UK Settlement permit, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain, is for those who have been living in the UK for a long period with a temporary visa and now want to receive a permanent one. The visa applies to people who have lived out of the UK for at least two years and now want to return, or their passport was lost.
EEA Residence Permits:
● EEA Residence Card
● UK Registration Certificate – EEA (QP)
● UK Permanent Residence Card – EEA (PR)
● EEA family permit related to the derivative right of residence
● EEA family permit related to retained rights of residence
● Certificate of entitlement for the right to abode in the UK
Other Residence Permits
UK Residence permits serve to gain temporary residence in the UK.
Categories
● Returning Resident Visa
● Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
● Residence Permit for Commonwealth Citizens
● Settlement visa as a Refugee or for Humanitarian Protection
Electronic Visa Waiver
The Electronic Visa Waiver is established for citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates who want to come to the UK for a maximum of six months to do business, sightsee, study, or get medical care.
Citizens of these countries must apply for other visa types if they seek to come to the UK for different reasons or longer periods.
A biometric residence permit (BRP) is a document/system designed by the United Kingdom to quickly and securely identify foreign nationals, track illegal immigrants, and reduce illegal immigration to the UK. This small ID card proves your immigration status as an expat, tourist or student in England.
A BRP is a compulsory travel document for foreigners planning to stay in the UK for more than six months. You must travel with your BRP, visa, passport, and other vital travel documents when traveling in or out of the UK.
BRPs are evidence of legal immigration and the conditions of a foreigner’s stay. This enables migrants to easily confirm their identity, open a bank account, study and/or work in the United Kingdom, and access public services.
All non-EU nationals who want to study, work, or live in the UK must apply for a biometric residence card (BRC). Migrants with special visas or applying in categories not listed in biometrics enrollment will not get a BRC; instead, they will get a sticker stamped on their passport.
BRP is one of the easiest travel documents to acquire. You will be issued a BRP if you:
● Plan to stay in the UK for more than 6 months;
● Apply for a specific Home Office travel documents;
● Extend the duration of your visa for more than 6 months; or
● Transfer your travel visa to a new passport.
BRP contains the immigrant's basic biographic data and information, such as his/her name, place of birth, date of birth, passport photograph, immigration status, and gender. Although processing and preparation take about two days, you will receive your card within 10 days. It will be sent to the address you used when filing your application.
There are three main ways of acquiring UK citizenship: automatic acquisition at birth, registration (usually for children), and naturalization (usually for adults). Almost all migrant adults without a British parent will have to naturalize to become UK citizens.
1. Acquisition by Birth
A child will acquire British citizenship by birth if they are born in the UK to a parent who is either a British citizen or has a form of settled status, such as indefinite leave to remain, at the time of the birth.
2. Acquisition by Registration
When a child is not automatically British by birth, they may be able to apply to the Home Office to register as a British citizen. A child can register as a British citizen if they were born in the UK, had a British parent before turning 18, were born before 1 July 2006 to a British or settled father, or lived in the UK until at least 10 years old.
3. Acquisition by Naturalization
An adult may be able to apply to naturalize as a British citizen if they have lived in the UK lawfully for five years and have been settled in the UK for at least one year. A British citizen's spouse or civil partner may be able to apply after three years of residence if they are settled in the UK. Requirements relating to permitted absences from the UK, good character, and knowledge of the English language and life in the UK will also need to be met.
Work visa sponsors, student visa holders, and UK residents sponsoring families to the UK need to meet specific requirements for sponsorship. For a Family Visa, the sponsor must have Irish or British citizenship, permanent residency in the UK (ILR), refugee or protected person status, or a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa. Eligible family members include partners, spouses, parents, children, and adults.
Adult Dependent Relative Visas require a sibling with a long-term health condition or who is over 18 and cannot take care of themselves and needs the sponsor's care. The applicant must be either a parent aged 18 years or over, a grandparent, a brother or sister aged 18 years or over, or a son or daughter aged 18 years or over.
1. Legal Separation
There are many reasons why a couple may choose a legal separation instead of applying for a divorce or civil partnership dissolution. Whether for religious or cultural reasons or because the couple has been married or in a civil partnership for less than a year, legal separation is often seen as a viable alternative.
An informal separation has the potential to cause significant disruption and lead to disputes over various issues, including the division of joint assets, household bills, and possessions later on. Filing for a legal separation (also known as a judicial separation) can remedy these potential complications. A legal separation can ensure that a couple has a formal arrangement for their finances, reducing the potential for disputes.
A legal separation will allow you and your former partner to separate from one another without formally ending your marriage or civil partnership. Legal separation allows the court to make the same financial orders as it would be able to on a divorce, except for the ability to make a pension-sharing order.
2. Annulment
Unlike divorce, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage or any time after. However, if you apply years after the wedding, you might be asked to explain the delay. You can annul a marriage for several reasons, such as:
● it was not consummated - you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married since the wedding (does not apply for same-sex couples)
● you did not properly consent to the marriage - for example, you were forced into it
● the other person had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) when you got married
● your spouse was pregnant by someone else when you got married
● one spouse is in the process of transitioning to a different gender
You can annul a marriage if it was not legally valid in the first place, for example:
● you’re closely related to the person you married
● one or both of you were under 18
● one of you was already married or in a civil partnership
If a marriage was never legally valid, the law says it never existed. However, you may need legal paperwork to prove this, for example, if you want to get married again.
3. Divorce
Within the UK, there is only one ground for divorce: the irretrievable marriage breakdown. You must include a statement declaring this within the divorce application process to get divorced.
These are the various steps involved in the divorce procedure:
Filing for divorce – To start the divorce proceedings, a single or joint divorce application must be sent to your local family court. Within the application, you must include a ‘statement of irretrievable breakdown’ to confirm that the relationship has run its course.
If your spouse makes a sole application for divorce, you will be notified by the relevant court and must reply within 14 days with an ‘acknowledgement of service’ form.
Conditional Order – The Conditional Order is a legal document issued by a court establishing that there is no barrier to your divorce.
After the divorce application has been issued, there is a minimum 20-week cooling-off period before you can apply for the Conditional Order. This has been introduced as part of the no-fault divorce laws and aims to give couples time to consider their decision and make any necessary choices.
Final Order – Once a Conditional Order has been granted, you will then need to wait at least 6 weeks, and you can then apply for a Final Order. Your marriage is officially over once a court issues you with a Final Order.
Defending a divorce – Under the no-fault divorce laws, the option to contest/defend a divorce has been removed for all but can be contested under the most limited circumstances. For instance, when marriage is invalid or the English/Welsh courts have no jurisdiction.
Divorce settlements – When you get divorced, you must agree on how to divide your finances and what will happen to assets such as your home. If you have children, you must decide who they will live with, what contact each parent will have with them, and how they will be supported.
Divorce requires arrangements for children's care, living arrangements, contact levels, and financial support. Non-confrontational dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and collaborative law, are increasingly used in divorce. Mediation involves neutral discussions, while collaborative law involves a four-way meeting with lawyers for complex issues.
Deportation is a legal process in which a foreign national (an immigrant) is removed forcefully from the territory of the United Kingdom. The Home Office has the power to start deportation proceedings if a migrant has committed a crime or is considered a threat to the public good. If the Home Office enforces deportation, they can indefinitely bar such a person from returning to the UK.
Two common ways in which an individual may be required to leave the country are through voluntary departure or forced deportation.
A deportation order in the UK is a legal directive issued by the Home Secretary, stating a foreign national must be expelled due to potential danger or societal unfavorability, with restrictions on re-entry. Once the order is issued, the individual must leave the country and may be prohibited from re-entering for a specific period.
PART III – LABOR LAWS
1. Working Hours
In the United Kingdom, working hours are governed by the Working Time Regulations 1998. These regulations establish the following key points:
Maximum Weekly Working Hours:
On average, employees and workers must not work more than 48 hours per week. This calculation is based on a 17-week reference period.
The Working Time Regulations were built on the European Working Time Directive. Although the UK is no longer a member of the EU, the Working Time Regulations remain in the UK.
Working time refers to an employee's work at the employer's discretion, including rest periods, lunch breaks, and on-call time. If entitlements are denied, workers can file a tribunal claim, and compensation based on loss can be unlimited. This includes time spent resting, lunch breaks, and on-call time.
Opt-Out Option
While the maximum limit is set at 48 hours, workers can provide written consent to opt out of this restriction and work longer hours if they wish.
Employees may opt out of maximum hours regulation at any time, voluntarily, and in writing. Although including an opt-out in the employment contract is lawful, it is considered a better practice to use a separate opt-out agreement.
The opt-out agreement can last for a fixed period or indefinitely. Any opted-out worker can cancel the opt-out by giving at least seven days' notice unless the opt-out agreement provides a more extended notice, which cannot exceed three months.
Daily Working Hours
The regulations also limit the average daily working hours to eight hours. Monday to Friday, between 8:00 or 9:00 am and 4:00 to 5:00 pm, with a one-hour lunch. Usually, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. However, due to new ways of working and flexible forms of work, this can vary between organizations and industries.
2. Minimum wages
The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on your age and whether you’re an apprentice.
By law, your employer must pay a minimum amount on average for the hours you work. This is called the:
● National Living Wage (NLW) if you're aged 21 or over
● National Minimum Wage (NMW) if you're aged under 21 or an apprentice
These rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1 April every year.
You're entitled to be paid at least the apprentice rate if you're an apprentice aged:
● under 19
● 19 or over, and in the first year of your current apprenticeship agreement
If you're 19 or over and have completed the first year of your current apprenticeship, you're entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage for your age.
3. Leaves
Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days paid annual leave a year. This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday.
Here are the leave policies in the United Kingdom:
Statutory Paid Leave
Workers are entitled to a minimum of 28 days (5.6 weeks) of paid leave per year, which includes bank holidays. This entitlement is pro-rata for part-time staff.
Bank holidays or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. Employers can choose to include them as part of a worker’s statutory annual leave.
Specific Types of Leave
○ Maternity, Adoption, and Paternity Leave: Employers must provide leave and pay for eligible employees during these significant life events.
○ Shared Parental Leave: Allows parents to share leave and pay following the birth or adoption of a child.
○ Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Employers must pay SSP to eligible employees who cannot work due to illness.
○ Parental Bereavement Leave: Provides time off for parents who lose a child under the age of 18 or experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
○ Time Off for Family and Dependents: This policy allows employees to take time off in emergencies or to care for dependents.
Other Leave Considerations
○ Career Breaks: Employees may request a career break, an extended period away from work.
○ Time Off for Public Duties: Employees serving on a jury or as a magistrate are entitled to time off.
○ Training and Study at Work: Employees can take time off for training and study.
○ Travel Disruption and Work: Employers should consider arrangements when travel disruptions affect employees.
○ UK Bank Holidays: While not mandatory, many employers grant time off for recognized bank holidays.
4. Retirement
Here are the retirement age policies in the United Kingdom:
State Pension Age
○ The State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. As of now, it is 66 for both men and women.
○ The UK no longer has a mandatory or forced retirement age. The Default Retirement Age (previously set at 65) was abolished in April 2011.
Pensions Act 2011
○ Under this Act, the State Pension age for women increased more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.
○ From December 2018, the State Pension age for both men and women started increasing to 66 by October 2020.
5. Labor Agreement
In the United Kingdom, labor agreements are governed by legal regulations and collective agreements.
Collective Agreements
○ Employers may have collective agreements with employees’ representatives (such as trade unions or staff associations). These agreements allow negotiations on terms and conditions, including pay and working hours.
○ The Collective Agreement specifies:
■ How negotiations will be organized
■ Who will represent employees
■ Which employees are covered by the Agreement
■ The terms and conditions the Agreement will cover
Individual Employment Contracts
○ An employment contract is an employee and employer agreement outlining implied and explicit terms and conditions.
○ It includes job responsibilities, working hours, pay, and other relevant provisions.
○ Employers are legally required to provide employees with a written statement of employment particulars covering essential terms of employment.
Key Rights and Protections for Employees
○ Minimum Wage: Employees aged 23 or older are entitled to receive at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW).
○ Working Time Regulations: Employees have the right to:
■ A maximum weekly working hours limit
■ Rest breaks during working hours
■ Protection against excessive night work
○ Protection Against Discrimination: Employees are safeguarded against discrimination based on various grounds (e.g., age, gender, disability, race).
○ Protection Against Unfair Dismissal: Employees have rights related to dismissal procedures.
○ Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Rights: Employees have rights related to family leave.
○ Shared Parental Leave: Allows parents to share leave after childbirth or adoption.
○ Flexible Working: Employees can request flexible work arrangements.
In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 is pivotal in safeguarding people from discrimination in the workplace and broader society. This comprehensive legislation replaced previous anti-discrimination laws, streamlining them into a single Act for clarity and enhanced protection.
Protected Characteristics
○ The Equality Act prohibits discrimination based on various protected characteristics:
■ Age: Discrimination due to age is unlawful.
■ Gender Reassignment: Individuals undergoing or having undergone gender reassignment are protected.
■ Marital Status or Civil Partnership: Discrimination based on marital status or civil partnership is prohibited.
■ Pregnancy and Maternity: Pregnant individuals or those on maternity leave are safeguarded.
■ Disability: Discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited.
■ Race: Protection against racial discrimination.
■ Religion or Belief: Discrimination based on religion or belief is unlawful.
■ Sex: Discrimination based on sex or gender is not tolerated.
■ Sexual Orientation: Discrimination due to sexual orientation is prohibited.
Forms of Discrimination
○ Discrimination can take various forms:
■ Direct Discrimination: Treating someone less favorably due to a protected characteristic.
■ Indirect Discrimination: Imposing policies or practices that disproportionately affect individuals with certain characteristics.
■ Harassment: Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates an individual’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
■ Victimization: Treating someone unfairly because they have made a complaint or supported someone else’s complaint about discrimination.
PART IV – SOCIAL SECURITY LAWS
In the United Kingdom, the social security system is crucial in providing financial support to individuals.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP):
○ The DWP oversees much of the benefits system in Great Britain.
○ It delivers the State Pension and various working-age, disability, and ill-health benefits to approximately 20 million claimants and customers.
○ In 2020/21, the DWP’s spending exceeded £220 billion, making it the largest spender among UK government departments.
Benefit Types
○ The UK social security system covers various benefit types:
■ Bereavement Benefits: Support for those who have lost a loved one.
■ Family Benefits: Assistance related to family circumstances.
■ Housing Benefits: Aid for housing costs.
■ Pensions: Including the State Pension.
■ Sickness, Disability, and Carers’ Benefits: Support for health-related challenges.
■ Working Age Benefits: Assistance for those of working age.
Government Objectives
○ Social security aims include:
■ Relieving Poverty: Providing financial assistance to vulnerable individuals.
■ Income Maintenance and Replacement: Ensuring a safety net during challenging times.
■ Income Redistribution: Addressing inequalities.
■ Meeting Additional Costs: Such as disability-related expenses or childcare.
■ Compensation: For specific circumstances.
■ Wider Economic and Social Aims: Encouraging labor market participation, economic stability, and behavior change.
PART V – SETTLEMENT CONCERNS
In the United Kingdom, the National Insurance Number plays a crucial role in administering the National Insurance and Social Security systems. It is also used for certain purposes in the UK tax system.
Who Can Apply
○ You can apply for a National Insurance Number if you:
■ Live in the UK.
■ Have the right to work in the UK.
■ Are working, looking for work, or have an offer to start work.
○ If you can prove your right to work in the UK, you can even start working before receiving your National Insurance Number.
○ If you already have a National Insurance number, you don’t need to apply for a new one, even if your details change. Your National Insurance number remains the same for life.
○ Note that you don’t need a National Insurance Number to start an application for benefits or a student loan. You'll be informed on how to obtain one if you need it for benefit or student loan payments.
○ If you’re a UK resident aged 19 or under, you’ll typically receive a National Insurance Number in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both of the following apply:
■ You live in the UK.
■ A parent or guardian has completed a Child Benefit claim form for you.
○ If you didn’t receive a National Insurance Number during that time, you can:
■ Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if your parent or guardian filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you (you might already have a National Insurance number).
■ Apply for a National Insurance number online if your parent or guardian didn’t fill in a Child Benefit claim form.
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
○ If you have a BRP, you might already have a National Insurance number.
○ If you don’t have a National Insurance Number and plan to work in the UK, you must apply for one while you’re there.
A UK bank account is essential for managing finances, receiving payments, and accessing various services.
To open a UK bank account, you’ll need two essential documents:
Proof of Identity
○ To prove your identity, you can use your passport, driving license, or identity card if you’re an EU national.
○ These documents establish who you are and are accepted by most banks.
Proof of Address
○ To prove your address, you’ll need another document. Each bank has its own list of acceptable proof of address documents. Commonly accepted ones include:
■ Tenancy agreement or mortgage statement
■ Recent electricity or gas bill (less than 3 months old)
■ Recent bank or credit card statement (less than 3 months old)
■ Current council tax bill
■ A letter from HM Revenue & Customs.
○ If you’re new to the UK and don’t have all the required documents, banks have become more flexible. For instance:
■ If you’re a student, a letter from your University’s admissions office confirming your address may suffice.
■ Some banks accept a letter from Jobcentre Plus confirming your National Insurance Number.
■ Alternatively, before leaving for the UK, change your correspondence address with your existing bank to your UK address. Request a bank statement to prove your UK addresses
In the United Kingdom, you can reach emergency services swiftly by dialing the national emergency numbers. For many years, 999 has been the primary emergency hotline in the UK. It connects you to the police, fire brigade, ambulance, or coastguard. 112 is the pan-European equivalent to 999 and can also be used in the UK. It connects you to emergency services and is free of charge.
There are also organizations whose main advocacy is protection against domestic violence. Some of these organizations are:
1. Rape Crisis England & Wales provides support for anyone aged 16 and above who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other form of sexual violence.
You can reach their 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line by calling 0808 500 2222 or starting a free online chat on their website. Remember, this service is not an emergency line, so if you’re in immediate danger, please call 999.
2. The NSPCC Helpline offers support for concerns related to child abuse. Their specialist team is available Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm.
You can contact them by calling 0808 800 5000, emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk, or using their report abuse online form. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999 right away.
If you’re interested in obtaining a driving license in the UK, here’s what you need to know:
Provisional Driving License
○ To start learning to drive, you’ll need a provisional driving license. You can apply for it online through the DVLA website: www.gov.uk
○ You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old to apply.
○ Ensure you can read a number plate from a distance to meet the vision requirements.
Full Driving License
○ Once you’ve learned to drive and passed your driving test, you can apply for a full driving license.
○ To apply for a full license, follow these steps:
■ Sign the declaration on your driving test pass certificate.
■ Fill in form D1 (application for a driving license). You can order DVLA forms online or get them at post offices.
■ Include original documents confirming your identity.
PART VI – SUPPORT NETWORK
Embassy of the Philippines in London, United Kingdom
● Address: 6-11 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG.
● Telephone: (+44) 20 7451 1780
● Fax: (+44) 20 7930 9787
● Email: london.pe@dfa.gov.ph, embassy@philemb.co.uk
● Website: Homepage for the Philippine Embassy in London
Consular section of the Philippine Embassy
● Telephone: (+44) 20 7451 1803 / 05 / 14 / 15 / 19
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