Yesterday (Tuesday 11 May) marked 50 days remaining until the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be made to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

The Home Office has stated that the 50 day milestone provides an important opportunity for them to work with Businesses to bring the fast-approaching deadline to the attention of eligible EU employees.

All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, are encouraged to apply without delay so that they can continue to work, study, and access free healthcare and benefits in the UK after 30 June 2021.

It is not the responsibility of Businesses to make sure EU employees have applied, but businesses can play a role by reminding employees of the approaching deadline and cascading the information in the employer toolkit available on GOV.UK.

We would also remind you that businesses will not need to carry out retrospective Right to Work Checks on existing employees after the 30 June 2021 deadline. However, from 1 July, new EU, EEA and Swiss employees that you hire will need to demonstrate their right to work either with the pre-settled or settled status, or with a visa under the points-based immigration system.

Businesses must also remember that the new right to work checks (see our previous circular) comes into force in less than a week, 17 May 2021. These new checks will be one of the topics being discussed at our Annual Employment Law and HR Conference on 10 June 2021.