Publications

Frontier Workers Case Studies

Frontier workers, who live in one country and work in another while returning home regularly, have an important role in many cross-border communities, including in Northern Ireland. Prior to the UK’s exit from the EU, the rights of frontier workers were underpinned by EU law, alongside domestic legal frameworks and bespoke UK-Ireland arrangements. Changes to the UK's relationship with the EU have created a more complex regulatory environment, making it increasingly important that frontier workers have access to clear, practical information about their rights and the safeguards available to them.

Who is this resource for?
This resource has been put together to help navigate the complex landscape of rights for frontier workers and their families after the UK’s exit from the EU. The resource is intended as an aid to information and advice officers working with frontier workers, as well as to decision-makers in various sectors, such as healthcare and social security. The resource could be a useful resource for frontier workers themselves seeking clarity on their entitlements and references the relevant law.

What is in this resource?
This resource is comprised of six case studies based on common situations frontier workers and their families find themselves in. Each case study is built around two timelines, before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and after. The case studies contain helpful analysis on the correct law that must be applied in each case, as well as a summary decision on what benefits the frontier worker should be entitled to.

The resource contains template letters that frontier workers or their advisers can use when appealing decisions about access to benefits and entitlements.

Who developed/compiled the resource?
Dr Sylvia de Mars from Newcastle University, with the assistance of the Border People project; Annmarie O’Kane, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation; Manus Reid, North Connacht & Ulster Citizens Information Service; Aisling Doran, Community Advice Newry, Mourne and Down; and staff at the NI Human Rights Commission.
What is the resource based on?