The principle that ‘settled’ workers should be prioritised over foreign imports is unobjectionable, especially in the context of the government’s expressed desire to address the skills shortages which no doubt exist among the resident population. However, this prioritisation is based on – and feeds – the mistaken assumption that foreign workers are taking British jobs. Clearly, from the employment statistics recited above, nobody is taking British jobs, not even the British.

https://www.freemovement.org.uk/tier-2-brexit-ready/

In evidence given to various parliamentary committees, business leaders were unanimously opposed to the use of the Tier 2 system (or anything like it) in any future immigration framework dealing with the migration of skilled workers, citing its complexity, cost and the additional regulatory burden for employers. Unsurprisingly, the government countered that the UK’s non-EEA immigration system was ‘very effective’, and that systems were working well, such that ‘it may be that some aspects of those non-EEA systems could be applicable to EU citizens’.

While the results of the recent election and a reduced mandate for a hard-Brexit provide a glimmer of hope to employers wishing to maintain access to the European labour market, the government will surely continue to argue that Tier 2 is a good starting point for a post-Brexit European skilled migrant framework, especially in light of its pledge to reduce net migration to under 100,000.

However, if free movement for EEA nationals is to cease, the weight of evidence suggests that if the new system is anything like the old, and the regulatory burden of operating a license remains, employers and businesses will be unable to fill vacancies and the recruitment crisis will deepen, with significant ramifications for the UK economy.

For further information of Tier 2 General and sponsorship do get in touch at consult@mavisas.co.uk.

Thanks for reading

Mason Alexander