New guidance will be included to avoid overseas nursing staff paying unfair fees, but we will continue to press for data on recruitment from ‘red list’ countries.
During the application process, organisations must ensure that overseas nursing staff are aware of their employment rights so that they can make an informed decision about moving to the UK.
The Code of Practice establishes policy for all UK nations and is the code for England; each of the devolved administrations adheres to the principles of this policy but maintains their own specific code to reflect the differences in organisational structures in each country.
The Department of Health and Social Care’s Code of Practice now includes new principles on repayment clauses to ensure more ethical recruitment practises.
This comes after reports of international nurses being charged unfair fees by some employers when attempting to leave their jobs. Among the new principles are:
a). a repayment plan that is graduated based on years of service for repayment fees to be waived in cases where an individual’s health and well-being is jeopardised and the individual leaves due to bullying and harassment or poor working conditions
b). a requirement to inform applicants about repayment clauses, including an itemised list of costs to be reclaimed, as well as the need for costs to be proportionate and based on evidenced expenses incurred by the employer
For organisations applying to be on a list of approved ethical recruiters, a Code knowledge test will be introduced. These changes are in response to our feedback.
The RCN is concerned, however, that active recruitment is taking place, given the large number of new registrants from’red list’ countries, which the World Health Organization says have the most pressing health workforce shortages and should not be targeted for systematic recruitment by the NHS or independent employers.
In response to its publication, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen stated, “The horrendous practise of charging international nurses exorbitant fees to change jobs in the UK must end.” Measures such as requiring employers to produce evidence to back up any charges are a good start.
“Employers must respect and apply these new rules, and the UK government must clarify how they will be enforced, particularly in the independent sector, where nurses and support workers are frequently harassed by rogue employers.”
“Ministers must do more to address recruitment from ‘red list’ countries, which face the greatest workforce challenges, and active recruitment is not permitted.” While the UK government insists that this is not done on purpose, recent data shows a tenfold increase in recruitment from these countries.
“We urge governments across the United Kingdom to invest in expanding the domestic workforce and to implement bilateral agreements to ensure that all international recruitment benefits countries, professionals, and populations.” Recruitment must be transparent, dignified, and free of exploitation for anyone working in the UK.”
At RCN Congress this year, members urged RCN Council to lobby employers to formulate human resource policies for ethical overseas recruitment of nursing staff, with transparent terms and conditions of employment.
It’s hard to come by experienced people about
this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re
talking about! Thanks