Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory on the Iberian Peninsula's southern point. It is 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) in size and is bordered to the north by Spain. The environment is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, at the foot of which lies a densely populated urban area that is home to over 32,000 people, most of whom are Gibraltarians.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Anglo-Dutch armies conquered Gibraltar from Spain in 1704. The land was permanently given to the United Kingdom during the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was a vital Royal Navy outpost, especially during the Napoleonic Wars and World War II, since it controlled the limited entry and exit to the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, which is just 14.3 km (8.9 mi) wide. With half of the world's seaborne commerce flowing through it, this chokepoint remains strategically significant. The economy of Gibraltar is mostly focused on tourism, internet gambling, financial services, and bunkering.
The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a source of conflict in Anglo-Spanish relations, with Spain claiming ownership of the territory. Gibraltarians rejected bids for Spanish sovereignty in a referendum in 1967 and for joint sovereignty in a referendum in 2002. Despite this, Gibraltar retains extensive economic and cultural ties with Spain, with many Gibraltarians speaking both Spanish and a native dialect known as Llanito.
The United Kingdom and Gibraltar will leave the European Union on January 31, 2020. In December 2020, the United Kingdom and Spain agreed in principle on a framework for the United Kingdom and the European Union to discuss arrangements for Gibraltar's participation in portions of the Schengen Agreement.
Within seven days after dismissal, the employer must file a Notice of Termination with the Employment and Training Board. Failure to do so results in a GIP£750 fine.
Employers must adhere to any contractual responsibilities regarding termination in order to prevent breach of contract charges. To avoid charges of unfair dismissal, a fair process must be followed.
While this is not a legislative necessity, the Employment Tribunal will assess the employer's process. For instance, in cases of misconduct, the method should often contain the following steps: conducting a reasonable investigation, notifying the employee of the allegations made against him or her, conducting a disciplinary hearing, and providing an option to appeal.
The length of service and pay frequency determine the notice period after the first week, as shown below:
Employees who are paid on a monthly basis are entitled to one month's notice. Employees who are paid on a weekly or biweekly basis are entitled to one week's notice.
Employers who are paid on a monthly basis are entitled to a minimum of one month for up to eight years of service, two months for eight to ten years, and three months for ten years or more. Employees paid weekly or fortnightly are entitled to a minimum of one week if they have worked for less than two years, two weeks if they have worked for two to five years, four weeks if they have worked for five to eight years, eight weeks if they have worked for more than ten years, and thirteen weeks if they have worked for more than ten years.
The first week of any employment is a probationary period and can be legally terminated at the end of the week.
Fixed-term employees who are terminated prior to the contract's expiration are entitled to receive 50% of the compensation that would have accrued over the contract's remaining duration.
Over a time of 17 weeks, the average weekly work hours must not exceed 48 hours, although employees may contract out of the Act if certain conditions are met. Workers aged 15 to 18 years old are not permitted to work more than 40 hours per week.
The average normal hours worked by a night worker must not exceed eight hours in any 24-hour period. Night workers, with certain exceptions, are generally entitled to the same breaks as other workers. For instance, a shift worker who is required to work during a rest period must be granted a compensatory period of rest.
Since August of 2020, the minimum wage in Gibraltar has been set to £7.25 per hour or £282.75 per week.
In Gibraltar, the Department of Social Security is in charge of benefits and welfare. Employees make contributions to the social security system; self-employed people make voluntary contributions. Benefits can only be claimed if contributions have been made to the system. UK citizens who were receiving benefits in the UK may be able to continue receiving them while in Gibraltar.
Benefits available to Gibraltar residents include compensation for industrial accidents and diseases, unemployment benefits, maternity benefits and grants, and pensions.
The corporate tax rate in Gibraltar is 10 percent and applies to all businesses except those in the energy and utility industry. Businesses in this industry will also pay a 10 percent premium and will therefore incur a rate of 20 percent. This includes suppliers of power, gasoline, telephone service, and water.
Gibraltar has two tax systems: one that is based on gross income and does not offer any allowances, and another that is based on various rates and does. The taxable person has the option of selecting which system to use.
Generally, the income tax rates range from 17 percent to 40 percent but the actual percentage depends on the income bracket the taxable person belongs to.
Gibraltar is a VAT-free jurisdiction.
Gibraltar mostly adheres to the United Kingdom's visa policy. In Gibraltar, all British nationals enjoy the right of residence. Other holders of British passports, as well as nationals of the European Union and Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Passports are needed for all visitors to Gibraltar, with the exception of EU nationals who have a valid national identification card.
The European Union, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Gibraltar agreed in principle to admit Gibraltar to the Schengen region on December 31, 2020. A treaty to that effect is scheduled to be signed within the next six months. This would imply that visas to Gibraltar would be granted by a Schengen nation, namely Spain, in accordance with the Schengen Area's Visa Policy.
In the United Kingdom, there is no standard format for employment contracts. The parameters of a British employment contract may be spelled forth in an employee handbook, offer letter, or collective agreement (if one applies to the employment relationship), among other locations, in addition to a written or spoken agreement. In most cases, employment contracts include:
Contracting parties' rights and duties
Working conditions
Employee responsibilities
Regardless of the form of the employment contract, all employers in the United Kingdom are required to give workers with a written statement of particulars that contains a primary statement. The following must be included in the main statement:
The employer's title
The employee's name and work title
A description of the work to be done as well as the place where it will be done
The start and finish dates (if the contract is for a fixed-term)
The duration and terms of the employee's probation period, if one exists.
Salary and payment frequency
Working hours and days (the principal statement must also specify if the employee is expected to work overtime, nights or on Sundays)
Leave, as well as any other benefits to which the employee may be entitled
Whether there is any obligatory training the employee must complete
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
British Pound
