Working life in Oxfordshire has long been enriched by the diverse origins of its workforce. Nationals from relatively new member states of the European Union, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, are among the most recent immigrants to add to the economic and cultural wealth of the region.

Among other things, the ease with which workers from European Union countries can be put to work has made them popular with Oxfordshire employers.

While non-Europeans generally need permission to work in the UK, members of the European Union are able to work in another member state (including the UK) without obtaining a work permit.

But employers need to be aware of potential difficulties when employing nationals from certain European countries.

This is particularly important following developments in May 2004, and further changes made on January 1 this year.

Ten new countries joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. As far as eight of them are concerned, often known as the A8' members - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - their nationals are permitted to work here, provided they register with the Home Office within one month of starting employment.

Malta and Cyprus, the other two countries that joined, are exceptions and their nationals were given the same rights to work in member states as existing members.

On January 1 this year, Romania and Bulgaria became members of the European Union. Their nationals are treated differently from those of the A8 members.

Generally speaking, the majority of nationals from Romania and Bulgaria will not have an automatic right to work in this country.

Skilled workers may apply for an Accession Worker Card enabling them to work here but this is likely to require an employer to obtain a work permit on their behalf.

Permission to work in the UK will expire with the end of the job in question, unless they have worked continuously for a 12 month period, commencing December 31, 2006.

Top five tips for employers n Follow the Home Office guidance on obtaining and copying identity documentation before employing anybody new. This will protect you if you inadvertently employ somebody who is not entitled to work here. If you have employed somebody who is in fact working here illegally, you will almost definitely have committed a criminal offence. You could be fined £5,000 per illegal employee but, if you have followed the Home Office guidance, you should have a defence. (See the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk for more information).

n Generally speaking, nationals of the A8' member countries can only work for you if they have registered with the Home Office.

You must retain a copy of the employee's registration application form on their file. If an employee has not applied to register within one month of starting to work for you, they will be illegally employed by you.

n You may wish to employ a national of Romania or Bulgaria, but in most cases you will first need to obtain a work permit enabling that employee to obtain an Accession Worker Card.

You will need to retain a copy of that card, which will enable the employee to work in a specific job. If they later change their role, they will need to obtain another Accession Worker Card.

n Non-UK nationals have a right to be paid at least the national minimum wage. The usual legal limits governing average working hours, rest breaks and annual leave also apply. Treat all prospective new employees in the same way to avoid accusations of unlawful race discrimination.

There is no limit to the compensation which you could be ordered to pay, should an employment tribunal find against you. When checking applicants' identities, as advised above, treat all those applicants in the same way at each stage of your recruitment process.

Contact: Darbys 01865 811700, www.darbys.co.uk