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Interview with Labour MP Keith Vaz |
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vineri, 10 august 2012 |
 Interview with Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home
Affairs Committee
-Mr. Vaz
Romanian self-employed workers are being hugely discriminated lately as the
Department of Work and Pensions refuses their applications for a National
Insurance Number making it impossible for them to register as self-employed
with the HMRC for tax purposes. They cannot pay their tax and they can hardly
obtain new clients as they are seen by society as tax evaders. They present JobCentrePlus
with invoices from clients, recommendations, business insurance which although
not compulsory by law is requested by DWP, they need an accountant and they
prove they have tools and buy materials for their business and yet they are
refused on the grounds of failing to satisfy the DWP that they are
self-employed.
As Britain prides itself for attracting news businesses and
helps people start off in business what are your comments in the above
situation?
-This is an intolerable situation. When Romania joined
the EU it was accepted that there were going to be problems with regards to the
restrictions that were placed on Romanian and Bulgarian workers as opposed to
the other countries in the A8. What is not acceptable is that citizens of an EU
country should have difficulties in paying taxes and complying with the law. I
think that is important that we try and rectify this as a matter of urgency.
All Romanian nationals are seen to be doing is to comply with the british law,
which means to get the proper documents in order, to pay taxes as well as to
pay pay their NI number, but what we have is a situation with the Department of
Work and Pensions is putting barriers in the way. I know of many examples of
Romanians who wish to work but cannot work because of the restrictions and that
is not acceptable.
-Mr. Vaz could
you tell the leaders of the Romanian community in the UK what they should do in
order to try and bring changes and to bring a fair treatment for Romanian
nationals in the UK?
-Well I want to pay tribute to the Romanian Ambassador
in London who has been doing an excellent job in trying to assist the Romanian
community here. I will now take up this issue and I will ensure that something
is done. I think we do need an enquiry as to why there are delays in getting these
matters processed. I am going to write to the Secretary of State Work and
Pensions to see how we can resolve these matters.
-What is your
advice to Romanian students in the UK who cannot support themselves anymore
financially as they have applications for Yellow Cards stuck with the UKBA for
more than 7 months?
-As I said this is an intolerable situation because
many people want to have access to their passports cannot have access to their
passports it is going to distract them and they might not be able to travel as
their passports are with the UKBA. They cannot work while they study for 7-8
months. This is totally unacceptable and something needs to be done about this.
-As a British
politician how do you feel about the current issues which Romanian nationals in
the U have to deal with in order to remain residents here?
-I am deeply embarrassed by this and I think that the
government needs to act urgently, that is why I have written to the minister of
Immigration to ask him to put things right. This is a fellow EU country, an
ally of the UK and it is totally unacceptable its citizens should be put
through these difficulties and I want to see these difficulties resolved as
soon as possible.
Cristina Irimie
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English selections 
