UK May Rethink Restrictions on Non-EU Unskilled Workers as Preparations For The Olympic Games Intensify

January 23 2008

As the UK's Olympic Games preparation gather pace, it has emerged that the current ban on unskilled workers from outside the European Union taking up employment in the UK may be relaxed in the event of labour shortages.

Speaking about the likelihood of removing the ban in case labour demands for the 2012 London Olympics cannot be met from the domestic workforce, Professor David Metcalf of the Migration Advisory Council, or MAC, suggested that all attempts will be made to meet labour demands from the UK work force and from the EU. However, in order to meet the timetables for the Olympic Games, it may be necessary to reach beyond the EU in order to recruit the necessary workers.

Addressing a committee of Peers Professor Metcalf noted that, should the 2012 Olympic preparations fall behind schedule, the current approach to non-European Union immigrant workers may have to be reassessed. Commenting on the likelihood of labour shortages, Mr Metcalf said:

"One would certainly want to see whether or not [the shortages] could be sensibly filled by British employers. The worry I think one has about this, is the inevitable tension between the short run and the long run".

As the Olympic budget for the London Games climbs, the only way to ensure that the Games are delivered on time may be to recruit from outside the EU.

Professor Metcalf continued:

"If you talk about the Olympics having to be on-stream by 2012 and therefore the facilities having to be built by 2011… a modern apprenticeship is three years,"

Under the new Points Based System or PBS for managed migration to the UK, a five tier system will be rolled out through 2008 and 2009 which will include all work based visa applications from people wishing to live and work in the UK. The Points Based System currently does not permit applications from unskilled workers applying from outside the EU. These unskilled workers are placed in tier 3 of the system which covers specific short term temporary labour shortages, however, no such schemes exist at present and non-EU unskilled workers are likely to be unable to apply to work in the UK for the foreseeable future.

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