MAC To Release Shortage Occupation Lists
13/03/2008
The Migration Advisory Committee Proposes Report to identify skilled occupations where migration can sensibly help to fill labour shortages.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is set to conduct a shortage occupation list for the UK and Scotland by June 2008 to be used alongside the launch of Tier 2 of the PBS.
MAC is a relatively established non-departmental public body which is set up to present transparent, independent and evidence-based advice to Government on where skilled labour market shortages exist that can possibly and effectively be filled by non EU immigrants.
The proposed report is set to prove that there are certain skilled occupations that can be filled by recruiting migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EAA) and that the Border Of immigration Authority should reconsider the tight requirements under Tier 2 (PBS) and have a simpler system to enable employers to recruit foreigner.
This report is an independent report and although it is supported by government the views in the final report will not be those of government. MAC is made up of five economists and two ex-officio members.
Why do we need this report?
The UK economy is build to a large extent with the help of both EU and non-EU skilled foreign workers. In lieu of recent changes within the European Union (inception of Poland and Hungary) and the effects of global mobility on heightening terrorism, it is understandable that the border of Immigration Authority would like to tighten the immigration rules in order to have more border control and security.
Many foreigners' workers in the UK are sceptical about the new changes this proposed report will shed some much needed light on the new PBS, its faults and its strengths by taking a look at the sectors which will be affected by it.
Point Based System
The UK's newest and tighter, Point Based System was officially implemented with the launch of Tier 1 the end of February 2008 and the next phase of the PBS which is Tier 2 is set to be launched in mid 2008. The strengthened immigration rules have already started affecting many skilled immigrants and companies who rely on foreign immigrants.
In February 2008, the UK Home Office announced that doctors living outside the European Union will not be eligible to apply for post graduate training posts through the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP). While Indian restaurants in the UK are constantly raided by immigration officials who are out to catch illegal workers and who have made it difficult for restaurant owners to hire chefs on short term visas from outside the EU. The Indian restaurant business is a million pound industry that normally expands year to year, but with tighter immigration laws restaurateurs will find it more difficult to find chefs for that industry.
Tier 2
The new Tier 2 will ultimately be replacing UK work permits. Applicants under Tier 2 will need to have a job offer from an employer and the employer will have to be licensed by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) as an approved sponsor. Requirements under Tier 2 include English proficiency requirements and employers making sure that the job that needs to be filled by the foreign candidate needs to be amongst the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) skill level 3 or above within the National Qualifications Framework.
In circumstances where a candidate wishes to change employment, a new certificate of sponsorship must be obtained and a re-assessment against the points system will be required. Like the existing working permit service, a UK visa application under the second tier does not grant permission to live and work in the United Kingdom per se and a new certificate will be required for each change of employment.
Methodology and Framework
Mac will include the Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC), 'which is designed as a classification applicable to all paid jobs performed by economically active persons in the UK' to be a part of their work.
To produce the shortage list, they will use a 'hybrid method that combines the consistency and comprehensiveness of a "top-down" approach with the fine-grained detail and contextualisation of a "bottom-up" method. To identify which occupations are skilled, and which of those are experiencing shortage, we will look at national (i.e. UK-wide) labour market data. But, it is unlikely that all skilled occupations with significant shortages of labour can be identified from top-down sources alone. Bottom-up micro-level analysis relating to particular categories of jobs and sectors will also be central to our work".
At Global Visas we understand the importance of immigration compliance and employer liability. We are the leading UK immigration and visa agency assisting many companies with applications for foreign workers and understand the new Tier 12345 rules and how they affect you. To find out about how we can help, contact us via our website and a consultant will be in touch soon.
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