Bonaventura Model United Nations
23th, 24th and 25th of September
2016
Research Report
Forum: Economic and Social Council
Issue: Ensuring equal employment opportunities, including for expats and
international workers after Brexit, recalling Sustainable Development Goal 8
Student Officer: Marieke Pronk
Position: Deputy President
Introduction
Since there is a free labour movement within the EU, many people nowadays work outside of
their homeland. This includes British people. Now that Brexit is a fact and will be completed in
the next two to three years, we need to ensure that expats, British people in this case, as well as
international workers who work in the United Kingdom have equal employment opportunities.
Like Sustainable Development Goal 8 says, we should promote sustained, inclusive and
sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. We need
to find ways to secure economic growth in spite of countries who leave the EU. So the question
is: how do we guarantee a equal employment rights policy for expats and international workers
without a economy that will flinch and become unproductive?
Definition of Key Terms
Bremain
Blend of Britain + remain. A term in the United Kingdom for remaining in the European Union.
Brexit
The non-binding national referendum held in 2016 that resulted in a vote for the United
Kingdom to leave the European Union.
Brexpat
A British person who is voluntarily absent from their homeland the United Kingdom.
Expat
A person who is voluntarily absent from home or country.
International worker
A person from another country who has come to work in another country. This can be due to a
rang of reasons, including an interest in global awareness; political sympathy; or a desire for
experience, adventure, or financial success.
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Bonaventura Model United Nations
23th, 24th and 25th of September
2016
Sustainable Development Goal 8
Proposition to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment and decent work for all.
General Overview
Never before has a country voted to leave the European Union, but on the 23th of June 2016 the
British population did. No one expected this outcome of the Referendum, not even UK’s biggest
political parties. The Brexit has started a divide in British politics, but also amongst the
population. While highly-educated people and young people voted for a Bremain, low-skilled
and older people (age 65 or older) voted for a Brexit.
There were some general reasons for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. One of the main
reasons was the fact that the UK had to pay a membership fee of almost 9 billion pound. But in
exchange of this amount of money there is free trade, which save money. Furthermore, for
Brexiters sovereignty was seen as a simple win, because few disagree with not having control
over their own affairs, but also because of the many immigrants who are trying to come to the
UK, the majority of the population voted Brexit.
The Brexit has its advantages as well as disadvantages for Brexpats. Since there is no clear plan,
expats have to deal with much uncertainty. Luckily, international laws provide them with some
degree of protection by promising those who owned property in the EU before the Brexit, will
not be at risk of losing any rights to their personal property. Furthermore, it is still unclear what
will be decided on during negotiations with the EU in regards to working legality, healthcare
access, residency, taxes, inheritance implications and freedom of movement for expats.
However, as a result of the Brexit, a lot of expats have requested employment in countries that
are closely related to the UK. Besides, expats that are paid in euros or in other currencies pegged
to the US dollar do not have to handle with the crash of the pound sterling.
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Bonaventura Model United Nations
23th, 24th and 25th of September
2016
Furthermore, for international workers in the United Kingdom, their rights will not change
overnight, but it will become more difficult to get employers’ rights. Also, the international
workers who now live in the United Kingdom will need new evidence in the form of their rights
documentation to remain.
Also, recalling Sustainable Development Goal 8, and therefore promoting development-oriented
policies that support productive activities like decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity
and innovation, will become more difficult in the coming years. This is also because expats and
international workers do not have the certainty they would like to have.
Major Parties Involved
European Union (EU)
An association of European nations formed in 1993 with as its main purpose to achieve political
and economic integration. As a result of the Brexit, more countries will maybe depart from the
EU, but the remaining countries will possibly have an even stronger feeling to work together.
European Union Members (before Brexit)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United
Kingdom
Scotland
After the Brexit the Scottish premier said there would probably come a second independence
referendum for Scotland because the majority in Scotland voted to remain in the EU.
United Kingdom (UK)
A monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles divided into England,
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Timeline
1 January 1973
23 June 2016
24 June 2016
The United Kingdom entered the European Economic
Communities (EEC)
Polling day for the EU referendum
National declaration of the referendum result
Previous attempts to solve the issue
Unfortunately, there haven’t been any significant attempts so far to solve this issue, since
negotiations between the EU and the UK has just started.
Possible Solutions
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Bonaventura Model United Nations
23th, 24th and 25th of September
2016
One possible solution could be to set up an organisation which will ensure that expats and
international workers get good employment rights in the country they live and work. Therefore,
there must be a good relationship between the countries that it concerns to make a clear
agreement.
Another possible solution could be that expats and international workers will get a passport that
can be used as a work and residence permit in the EU as well as the UK. It will be a lot of work to
give every expat or international worker such passport, but after getting it, it is significantly
easier and faster.
Last but not least, the EU and the UK can create a free movement of employers’ agreement. This
will be extremely profitable for both the EU and the UK.
Bibliography
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit
http://globalriskinsights.com/2016/07/brexpats-brexit-british-expats-risk/
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg8
https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2016/may/26/will-leaving-eu-harder-workeurope-uk-workers-abroad
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/24/what-does-brexit-mean-for-eucitizens-in-britain-and-brits-in-europe
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/22/will-europeans-be-free-to-stayin-the-uk-after-brexit
http://www.theweek.co.uk/brexit-0
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