Employees in both the public and private sector who have customer-facing roles are will be expected to be able to speak fluent English to customers. However, how employers assess fluency can be controversial.<\/p>\n
The government is planning to bring into force Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, which requires all public sector workers in customer-facing roles to speak fluent English. The stated intention is to increase standards in order to meet \u201cthe public\u2019s reasonable expectation to be able to speak English when accessing public services\u201d.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the High Court rejected an attempt by a private sector company, the taxi firm Uber to challenge the requirements of a new English language test for taxi drivers. Transport for London (TfL) plans to introduce rules that mean all Uber drivers from non-English speaking countries will have to pass a reading, writing and listening test in order to obtain or renew their taxi licence. TfL says that the test is part of a range of measures designed to enhance public safety.<\/p>\n
Uber had argued that the requirement was disproportionate and discriminatory. The High Court disagreed with Uber and has accepted the principle of the new test and the standard of English it will require. There may be some exemptions on a case by case basis.<\/p>\n
The new rules will affect a significant number of public sector roles. Some positions, including many within the teaching and medical professions, are already subject to a language standard which is sufficient to meet the requirements of the new legislation. However, the government estimates that around 1.8 million public sectors workers in customer-facing roles are not currently subject to any formal English language standard.<\/p>\n