Britain hobbles OE workers

Young New Zealanders heading to Britain on their OE will again be allowed to work just one year of a two-year stay.

The new rules, which came into force on Monday, will not apply to those who already have visas or are in Britain.

About 5000 Kiwis take off every year for what is commonly known as "overseas experience", with many working in London to earn money for travel.

The new rules, announced in the lead-up to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's election campaign, aim to stop young people "abusing" the working holiday privileges by going to Britain for full-time employment, and to ensure that Britons are not being deprived of jobs.

Less than two years ago, the British Government relaxed restrictions for the popular visa. It increased the age limit to 30, allowed working holidaymakers to earn money in their profession and gave Commonwealth citizens the opportunity to switch to permanent employment after one year.

Before that, New Zealanders could work for one year of their two-year stay and had to take unskilled or low-skilled jobs.

There were reports at the time that Britain intended altering the scheme in a way that would disadvantage Kiwis, and the New Zealand Government lobbied hard against that.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said Britain was taking the scheme back to pre-2003. The one improvement that survived was the higher age limit.

Visa-holder Jeremy Bain told One News the one-year restriction would make working too difficult.

"Financially, you can't live in London unless you're earning the money because it is too expensive."