Legal from 1st of May?

LegacyUser

Not really a personal issue, but still...

I've a mate from Estonia who's been in the country for a year or so illegally (working cash in hand). With the whole entry into the EU thing, but given the exemptions that our government is making at the same time and his own grey area, he doesn't know what he should do - come clean and admit he's been here illegally, lie and say he's just arrived or just keep mum.

Given his situation his list of options for advice are a bit limited. He has a job, so he's not looking for welfare - still what should he do?

Laguna

just say he's arrived man, screw the system, why should he have to leave for doing an honest days work

I'm sure this might be better in the work foum but I'll try answer.
Pretend he has just arrived, who is to know.
Even if the Dept wanted evidence of travel, it would not be illegal for him to have got a lift with a truck driver or on several trucks across Europe, so thats why he has no ticket.
He has a job, so then he should go "legal" in that job, get an pps number etc or whatever the procedure is for non Irish E.U citizens and negotiate with his boss if he's friendly enough with him/her on a declared wage as opposed to a cash un declared wage.
It should save the boss money actually as he may have to account for the cash payments in his books as personal drawings from the business and he would have to pay tax on that anyway.

just my 2 cent

Genghis

Did he have any visa to be here in the first place? In other words, is he likely to be on an Irish government list somewhere as being a person who overstayed a visitor / work visa?

If not, I'd say the best course of action is go legal with the work. What is certain is that if he continues to work in the black economy (and I appreciate he hasn't had the option to do that until now), then after 1st May he will be illegal anyway. Besides that, as a non-registered 'emplyee' he has no rights whatsoever (minumum wages, conditions, etc), so he should take up legal employment for those reasons as well.

Victor

Originally posted by Genghis
as a non-registered 'emplyee' he has no rights whatsoever (minumum wages, conditions, etc), so he should take up legal employment for those reasons as well.

Actually he has full rights, but yes enforcing them may be difficult.

Tell him get:

(a) a green card (minimal formality)
(b) a PPSN
(c) register to vote in the local and European elections

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by Laguna
just say he's arrived man, screw the system, why should he have to leave for doing an honest days work

That is the attitude that has ireland in the mess it is in.

rander00

Just tell him to get the fook out of our country! Let him to an "honest" days work in Estonia.

Our man in Havana

Just tell him to get the fook out of our country! Let him to an "honest" days work in Estonia.

That's a lovely attitude to have towards our new neighbours. It's your attitude that has this country in the state it's in!


Anyway back on topic
From Today it don't matter either way. He is now a EU citizen with full working and residence rights.

Get a PPSN
Register to vote!

From today he is legal regardless of method of entry.

halkar

Originally posted by MateOfAMate
...
Given his situation his list of options for advice are a bit limited. He has a job, so he's not looking for welfare - still what should he do?

He has a job but not paying tax, longer he keeps that job more trouble he will be in.
We pay taxes in this country and if he wants to be honest he can start paying taxes, once he does that most things will be fine, so go for a PPSN.

We should keep him and send his boss to Estonia or Iraq