Working in the UK
Immigration cap on skilled workers (Working in the UK)
The Home Affairs Committee has published its report on Immigration: skilled shortages, concluding that the immigration cap on skilled workers has had no effect on reducing net migration and is not "fit for purpose".
The key conclusions and recommendations were as follows:
- Whilst the cap has served a purpose in discouraging recruitment from non-EU countries, it has had a displacement effect in stimulating recruitment from EU countries.
- There has been a significant rise in people using the Intra Company Transfer route (Tier 2(ICT)) to come to the UK.
- The Tier 2 cap of 20,700 has a very limited role in attempts to restrict net migration.
- The initiative to put unused Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) back into the system is considered the correct approach.
- They would support a decision for nurses to remain on the Shortage Occupation List.
- Raising the minimum salary requirements for Tier 2 visas may ease pressure on the cap but it would not meet the needs of those employers who want to bring in particular skills but are unable to pay the higher salary required.
- It recommends maintaining the policy that priority is given to PhD level posts in securing Certificates of Sponsorship.
- The Government needs to provide more clarity on its plans for an Apprenticeship Levy and an Immigration Skills Charge.
- In agreement with the Migration Advisory Committee, they recommend that the Government should exempt Certificates of Sponsorship for graduate training schemes from the cap.
- The review process of the audit decision needs to be publicly available, and subject to a clear timetable, for it to gain confidence from sponsors.
- The period of time allowed for an organisation to give further information in the event of a suspension or revocation of a licence is not long enough, and they recommend it be increased to at least 40 working days.
- They also recommend that the Home Office introduce the right to appeal a decision to suspend or revoke a sponsor's licence rather than requiring sponsors to resort to costly and time-consuming judicial review claims.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35128149
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhaff/429/429.pdf
Immigration cap on skilled workers (Working in the UK)
The Home Affairs Committee has published its report on Immigration: skilled shortages, concluding that the immigration cap on skilled workers has had no effect on reducing net migration and is not "fit for purpose".
The key conclusions and recommendations were as follows:
- Whilst the cap has served a purpose in discouraging recruitment from non-EU countries, it has had a displacement effect in stimulating recruitment from EU countries.
- There has been a significant rise in people using the Intra Company Transfer route (Tier 2(ICT)) to come to the UK.
- The Tier 2 cap of 20,700 has a very limited role in attempts to restrict net migration.
- The initiative to put unused Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) back into the system is considered the correct approach.
- They would support a decision for nurses to remain on the Shortage Occupation List.
- Raising the minimum salary requirements for Tier 2 visas may ease pressure on the cap but it would not meet the needs of those employers who want to bring in particular skills but are unable to pay the higher salary required.
- It recommends maintaining the policy that priority is given to PhD level posts in securing Certificates of Sponsorship.
- The Government needs to provide more clarity on its plans for an Apprenticeship Levy and an Immigration Skills Charge.
- In agreement with the Migration Advisory Committee, they recommend that the Government should exempt Certificates of Sponsorship for graduate training schemes from the cap.
- The review process of the audit decision needs to be publicly available, and subject to a clear timetable, for it to gain confidence from sponsors.
- The period of time allowed for an organisation to give further information in the event of a suspension or revocation of a licence is not long enough, and they recommend it be increased to at least 40 working days.
- They also recommend that the Home Office introduce the right to appeal a decision to suspend or revoke a sponsor's licence rather than requiring sponsors to resort to costly and time-consuming judicial review claims.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35128149
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhaff/429/429.pdf
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhaff/429/429.pdf