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The UK has now formally left the EU, and the 'transition period' ended on the 31st of December 2020. As of the 1st of January 2021, the UK is deemed to be outside of the European Economic Area.

Following years of negotiation, the UK and EU reached a last-minute post-Brexit trade agreement on the 24th of December 2020. The deal came into law on the 30th of December 2020 and it is expected that the deal will be formally ratified by the EU parliament in the first half of 2021. In 2019 the EU accounted for 47% of the UK's total trade, and the relationship has been valued at over $900 billion.

In this article we will take a brief look over what the Brexit deal may mean for the recruitment sector, as well as provide some links to useful guidance which can provide further details.

The Deal

The deal largely focuses on the importation and exportation of goods and areas like state security – there is limited agreement on services.

Some particular areas to note within the deal include:

  • The data protection section, which is vague. The EU has not even yet confirmed that the UK's data protection regime is equivalent to the EU regime which may have implications on transferring data between the UK and EU.
  • There is no longer going to be mutual recognition of professional qualifications. This will certainly be an issue both for UK staff working in and EU member state and for any EU staff working within the UK. It will also present a challenge for any applicants seeking to work abroad and is likely to affect many sectors including healthcare, teachers and lawyers.
  • Business visitor rules to the EU are fairly flexible, and are subject to a maximum stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. However, the visa rules are complicated, and recruiters will need to work out the periods carefully if supplying staff into EU member states.
  • Also as hauliers face challenges at the French border with spot checks by border police and delays, this will have an impact on recruitment agencies that supply drivers.
  • On a more positive note, it is not expected that Brexit will have a significant impact on employment law in the UK. The UK domestic legislation already exceeds EU employment law in many areas and the UK has already incorporated TUPE and AWR etc. into the UK's legal system.

The Impact

Many have criticised the deal for focussing on goods and not services, especially considering the fact that the services sector comprises 80% of the UK economy. However, there have been promises from the government that it is committed to working and negotiating in order to improve the services provisions.

It is likely that trade bodies such as the REC are going to continue lobbying the government for clarity, and indeed the REC stated that “this array of complexity and vagueness is what led the REC and many other organisations to focus on the need for a support framework for businesses. No agreement delivered this late in the day could give businesses the clarity they need quickly enough....”

Finally, even though the deal is not as detailed and widespread as some may have hoped for, this is still a positive step forward. A deal means that we can avoid some of the uncertainty and panic that would have occurred had there been a no-deal exit from the European Union. It also creates a framework for the UK and EU to work from and allows them to maintain the ability to work together through any future challenges that Brexit may bring.

APSCo also commented on the deal stating “There will be no doubt a lot of poring over the detail over the coming weeks, but we are relieved that there is now a deal to be ratified by the UK and EU Parliaments. The journey is not over but the largest hurdle is, at least, overcome.”

Next Steps for Recruiters

It is likely that the biggest challenge with the Brexit deal is going to be its application. Although the deal eliminates some confusion, a period of adjustment will still be necessary, and it is important that businesses have some sort of 'grace period' to get accustomed to the new rules.

There are a number of steps that recruiters should be taking now, including:

  • Keeping an eye on government bodies such as HMRC who have been issuing webinars and guidance on business post-Brexit and pay particular attention to the aforementioned challenges that data, cross-border mobility and establishment have created.
  • Liaising with trade bodies such as the REC and APSCo, as well as solicitors and government bodies to get to grips with changes in the law.
  • Checking both international and UK contracts to make sure they are fully compliant and address any changes in the law, such as jurisdiction clauses.
  • Checking existing staff and identifying any staff from an EU member state which may need to go through the UK Settlement Scheme and making sure they apply before the deadline (which is the 30th June 2021).
  • If supplying staff abroad, identify who they are and create a process to ensure they have a relevant visa (if required) and that they do not overstay the number of days they are permitted to be abroad.
  • Speaking to existing non-UK clients and agreeing what UK qualifications they will accept and amending any contracts accordingly.
  • Speaking to your insurance brokers to make sure that there has been no impact on your insurance policy(ies).

Here are some useful links with further detail that may be of interest: