Work and Pensions Translators

[DaveinGermany]

I was under the impression that to work & function within a Country you need to be able to understand & use the language of that Land ? Or am I just being petty here ? And to say that those claiming a pension (suggesting you've worked in order to have a pension paid) require a translator ............. how the hell does that work ?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

I was under the impression that to work & function within a Country you need to be able to understand & use the language of that Land ? Or am I just being petty here ? And to say that those claiming a pension (suggesting you've worked in order to have a pension paid) require a translator ............. how the hell does that work ?

Simple Dave, yeh live abroad n require a translator, fer any function, It costs yeh, as it did me, had no complaints n no right to complain if i had wished.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

Simple Dave, yeh live abroad n require a translator, fer any function, It costs yeh, as it did me, had no complaints n no right to complain if i had wished.

Ya cashy we're the ones with mugs tattooed on our foreheads in this country, its the only place in the world were interpreters are paid for out of public funds and they don't come cheap nor do uman rights lawyers either

[wallop79]

I have had to use the translator services a few yrs ago, one thing which was always asked 1st was do you have someone with you who can translate for you, or to ring back if they could get someone to interpret for then, and they were always told to try & take someone with them to their interview at the job centre to translate. Using the interpreter service was always a last resort.

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by wallop79

Using the interpreter service was always a last resort.

That's as maybe, but surely if people are applying for a job/assistance or whatever it may be, a basic grasp of the home nations language is a prerequisite ?

As mentioned by Cashy when dealing with Spanish authorities any translation service he required was paid for by himself, the same applies to my situation in Germany & I'm pretty sure that the same applies for many other ex-pats wherever they may be.

I presume the thread was started to highlight a specific aspect of UK's open door policy which has impacted upon the general public. Due to monies being used to cover interpretation services, this causes a deficit in local budgets which then results in money being removed from other aspects of public funding.

[MargaretR]

When I worked at (what is now) DWP there was no such service.
It was a case of - bring your own translator and if the form doesn't get filled in you get nowt.

[Margaret Pilkington]

and that is exactly how it should be right now.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

and that is exactly how it should be right now.

Ditto was going to say exactly the same