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In many cases, employers don't do all of this. They either give employees a short offer letter or nothing at all. This is partly because an employer can't be fined for not giving you a proper contract. If you want a contract, but your employer won't give you one, all you can do is apply to an employment tribunal for a list of what should be included in your writing statement.

.: Do I have the right to work in the UK?

If an employer employs someone who doesn't have the legal right to work in the U K, they will be breaking the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. You may have to prove that you have the right to work in the UK. There are different documents that they may ask you to show to prove that you have the legal right. These include:-

A national insurance number.
A former P45.
A work permit; or
The right stamp in your passport.

If you do not have the legal right to work in the UK, but the employer still wants to employ you, they normally have to apply for a work permit for you from Work Permits UK at the Immigration & Nationality Directorate of the Home Office.

.: What is the minimum I should be paid?

We now have a national minimum wage in the UK. Your employer must not pay you less than this. Different rates apply to different types of people. For most workers, it is £4.10 an hour (£4.20 from October 2002). However, if you are between 18 and 22 years old, or you are over 22 but in the first six months of employment and taking part in training, you can be paid £3.50 an hour (£3.60 from October 2002). The national minimum wage doesn't apply if you:-

Are under 18.
Are under 19 and employed as an apprentice; or
Are under 26 and in the first 12 months of an apprenticeship.

You cannot be forced or persuaded by your employer to sign away your right to the national minimum wage, or to agree to a lower amount. If you are not receiving the minimum wage (or you believe you are not), and you complain,you have legal protection from being unfairly dismissed or victimized by your employer. If you are not being paid the national minimum wage, you can complain to the Inland Revenue it is responsible for enforcing the law, and can make an employer pay you the national minimum wage, as well as hack pay.

You or the Inland Revenue can take your employer to an employment tribunal or civil court. If that happens, it is up to your employer to prove that they were paying you the national minimum wage. Again, if the tribunal finds that your employer hasn't paid you what they should, you can claim backdated pay.