cleaner

[fedda]

Hello. I need some advice on wheter I have to check if my cleaner is allowed to work in UK. I'm thinking of having a cleaner from Poland or Brazil as the two girls were recommended to me but I don't want to get into any trouble giving work to somebody who is not allowed in UK. I know from experience if I ask my potential cleaner for a working permit or a passport people find any excuse and just don't come and I do need a cleaner. What do I do? I don't want to deal with the agencies though as they charge me more and my cleaner would get less so I really would like to have a private cleaner. Any advice is higly appreciated.

I'm sure that in theory you should check but think that most people don't bother. Unless you have a job where it would be particularly awful if you were employing someone who wasn't allowed to work I wouldn't bother. My cleaner is Ukranian, I don't know anything about what you need to work in the UK guess it's unlikely she can work, although did originally get her from an agency. Anyway she's great so am not going to worry about it - different if it was a nanny and I was her main employer.

well, Poland is part of the EU so any Polish nationals are just as free to work here as you and me

You should always check the work status of any employee. You should also check ID - so things like Passport, driving licence, anything else with name and photo on. However, in reality that does not always happen.

UKvisas.gov.uk - Do I Need A UK Visa? is a useful website to check what the rules are based on the employees nationality. A cleaner would be a 'Domestic Worker'.

Poland is part of the EEA. Polish workers in the UK need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme , for the first 12 months of the time they are in the UK.

A national of Brazil will require a VISA. Domestic Workers Guidance

Remember that while someone may live in a certain country, they may be a national of another country. Immigration rules are based on the persons nationality, not where they currently reside.

Do not assume that because someone is in the UK, that they have the right to work here... not all entry visas enable someone to work, and some will restrict working - such as Working Holidaymakers

Thank you very much for your advice.