Studying and working in Britain

For international students in China, working after school has become a part of their study life. Restaurant waiter, school teaching assistant, supermarket salesman, assembly line worker ... These completely different occupations have helped them reduce their financial burden and become an important lesson in their lives.

As a popular country for studying abroad, Britain has formulated a relatively perfect employment policy for international students. Since the financial crisis, the British Immigration Bureau has continuously tightened the policy of studying abroad and made some adjustments in the policy of working for international students. According to the new policy, starting from March 3 this year, the weekly working hours of students below undergraduate level will be reduced from 20 hours to 10 hours. What should students studying in Britain pay attention to at work? What are the ways?

If you sign a contract for a part-time job, you can complain if you are below the minimum wage.

According to the standards of the British Labor Department in 2005, the minimum wage for working in the UK is 5.05 pounds per hour. Therefore, foreign students must read the employment contract carefully before working, and look for the corresponding salary standard in the contract. If you find that the salary given by your employer is lower than the minimum wage, you can seek legal advice from the student union.

You need to pay taxes at work.

Working in Britain is taxable. According to the law, international students are only allowed to work 20 hours a week. During holidays, if they work more than 20 hours a week, they have to pay 20% tax.

Therefore, after finding a part-time job, international students need to apply for the national insurance number (British national social insurance number) from the local welfare institution in time. This figure is mainly used to count the total income of migrant workers as the basis for paying taxes.

It is very important to apply for the national insurance number.

National insurance number is very important for international students who are working. British law stipulates that once you start working, you must join social insurance within 6 weeks.

To apply for this number, you usually need to make an appointment for an interview by telephone first, and then bring your passport, student ID card, police officer's card, employer's letter of introduction, salary table and documents (such as telephone charges) to the designated place and time for an interview. After arriving at the welfare agency, the staff will help fill in the form according to various materials, and all the migrant workers have to do is sign for approval. After that, the welfare institution will inform the number within 1 month and send the card to the migrant workers within 2 months.

Apply for tax refund in time

Although it is necessary to pay taxes for working, according to British policy, if the annual income of a migrant worker is less than 4,800 pounds, the tax he pays will be refunded in full, and the tax will be paid proportionally if it exceeds 4,800 pounds.

Therefore, migrant workers can apply for tax refund from the time they receive the salary slip. Generally, employers or intermediaries will ask migrant workers to fill out a tax refund form and mail it to the designated address. It will take about 1-2 months to get the tax refund.

School career introduction center

Many universities in Britain have their own employment centers, which regularly publish job recruitment information for part-time and holiday jobs, and sometimes publish formal job recruitment information. Foreign students who have just arrived in Britain are not familiar with the local area, so it is a better choice to find a job through the school's career introduction center.

It's better for international students to find some jobs at school, and don't be too tired. The salary is generally higher than working in society, which is also helpful to cultivate social relations of international students.

Community employment introduction center

Every region will have its own employment center, which will provide some jobs, many of which are not all suitable for international students. The jobs provided by the introduction center include cleaners, nannies and supermarket salespeople. These jobs are scattered and the wages are not high. Most foreign students who have just arrived in Britain will work as operators on the factory assembly line.

It is very simple for international students to register in the employment center. Just fill in a form, write down the address and bank account number, show your passport and student ID card, and leave your contact number. You can call to ask about your work in the future.

Introduction by relatives and friends

Friends usually introduce the works of Chinese restaurants. The restaurant owner signed an agreement with the migrant workers.

This kind of work is usually in China city or big business district. It's a long way and there is no car to pick it up. The salary is also relatively low.

Media advertising work

Local newspapers and websites have some recruitment information from time to time. International students need to contact the employer by telephone.

But contact must be timely, and the job opportunities inside are generally fleeting. At the same time, foreign students should have certain discrimination ability to prevent being cheated.

Ask at the door

Whether it is a five-star hotel or McDonald's, it is the most earthy, direct and effective way to open the door and ask the supervisor for a job. This method can help foreign students get a lot of first-hand information, but it needs persistence.

I hope my answer is useful to you. I wish you a pleasant journey abroad.