Job Discussion Forums

[Canedolia]

I've been offered an interview for a job at a school in Italy that recruits through a UK agency and offers a UK contract. I know this agency recruits for lots of language schools in Italy and I was wondering if anyone who has worked under one of these contracts could tell me about any advantages or disadvantages they have experienced. Rumour has it that they may not even be legal...

[SueH]

No direct experience I'm afraid, but the reason they do it is to avoid onerous on-costs of employing somebody here (like very expensive NI..). Tax free allowances are also larger in the UK so they can appear to offer you a better deal in that way.

At least one disadvantage I can think of is access to health care. This may not be so important if you are there for just a year, which is the market I think these agencies are aimed at.

I suspect there may be other issues and potential illegality as your income is derived from your work in Italy; it's not like tele-commuting, for example, where the distinction is moot. Have a look at the Expats forum which is probably better than the Italymag forum which tends to be older Brits doing up old farmhouses (I generalise ridiculously, of course! ).

Hopefully somebody with more experience of the issues will pipe up.

[Canedolia]

Thanks Sue. I think health care will be Ok because I'm from the EU but I am concerned about working for a place that could be offering illegal contracts!

[TheLongWayHome]

If it's Eurotemp, steer well clear.