As
several Senegambians from across the European Union (EU) found themselves in
the middle of controversy regarding their status in the UK following the
county’s departure from the EU, the Point can confirm that so far their rights
are legally ‘‘protected and guaranteed’‘.
Even
though the UK-EU so-called Withdrawal Agreement came into effect since 31
January and effectively implemented in Britain through the EU (Withdrawal
Agreement) Act, EU citizens and their family members are ‘‘protected throughout
the transitional period’’.
During
the past decade, hundreds of Senegambians across the EU settled in the UK for
various reasons. But following Britain’s departure from the EU many had found
themselves in ambiguity, uncertainty and sometime with a sense of insecurity.
However
a document from the EU Internal Market Adviser sent to this correspondent via
the Law Society of England and Wales confirmed the legal rights of such
individuals including: ‘‘Residency rights, labor rights, social security
entitlements and tax treatment’’.
According
to Title II of the document ‘‘residency rights (Art 13) and the right to travel
into and out of the UK without visa (Art 14) is secured for EU citizens and
their family members throughout the transitional period’’.
Employment
rights are also ‘‘secured until the end of the transitional period (Art 22),
along with non-discrimination on grounds of nationality (Art 23)’’.
The
Withdrawal Agreement also states that, during the transitional period, ‘‘EU
workers in the UK have the same labour rights, social security entitlements and
tax treatment as UK nationals (Art 24)’’.
Additionally,
all EU professional qualifications are recognized in the UK during the
transitional period as clearly states in (Art 27)..
During
this said period, an EU passport is sufficient proof that individuals are
entitled to these provisions.
This
correspondent also uncovered that EU citizens and family members who have been
resident in the UK for more than five years ought to be entitled to remain in
the UK permanently (Art 15).
However
this is subject to UK requirements on process and registration (Art 18).
The
UK government has already established the so called settled Status Scheme as
the process for ensuring that these rights are also recognized.
Eligible
candidates are urged to apply accordingly.
