Immigration
On 23 February, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) responded to the Home Secretary's request to rapidly review the new Immigration Salary List (ISL). The ISL has been put forward as the government’s replacement for the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The full assessment can be accessed by clicking here.
In its rapid review of the ISL, the MAC has recommended that 21 roles be included on the new ISL, previously listed on the SOL. Inclusion on the list means preferential criteria for employers seeking to sponsor overseas workers to fill vacancies in such occupations. There are a number of roles relevant to REC members on the list, including Stonemasons and related trades (SOC Code: 5312), Bricklayers (SOC Code: 5313), Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (SOC Code: 5314), Retrofitters (SOC Code: 5319), Care workers and home carers - private households or individuals (SOC Code: 6135), Senior care workers (SOC Code: 6136).
The MAC, while limited to giving independent advice to the government on migratory issues and making recommendations, relies upon authorisation by Home Office ministers. However, the MAC is highly influential, and the government usually accepts most of its recommendations.
The MAC has highlighted that, as part of their fuller review of the ISL later this year, stakeholder engagement will form a critical component of this evidence-gathering process. We at the REC will feed into this, based on evidence from members - and we will keep all REC members fully informed on the next review of the ISL and the next steps around this.
Elsewhere, we continue to lobby the Home Office for an exclusive roundtable to highlight the implications of the recent announcements on the UK labour market - particularly within sectors, like Health and Social Care, that rely on overseas workers. Additionally, we are also aware of further evidence gathering that civil servants at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Treasury (HMT) are doing on the impacts of the government's 5-point plan on the economy and are trying to position the work of the REC in these assessments.
The evidence collected from members will also feed directly into the CBI’s new myth-busting campaign on immigration and help inform our conversations with other industry bodies.
If you are keen to feed into our work and/or would like to discuss these announcements further, please email our Immigration Policy Lead, Usman Ali at Usman.Ali@rec.uk.com
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