Migrant worker rules loosened as part of package to fill skills gap
Bricklayers and plasterers are among five occupations being added to a list of roles which will benefit from relaxed visa rules in a bid to plug gaps in the workforce with overseas labour.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government has accepted the recommendations of the independent Migration Advisory Committee鈥檚 interim review of the construction sector published today.
It means that five categories of occupations will be added to the shortage occupation list (SOL); bricklayer and masons; roofers, tilers and slaters; carpenters and joiners; plasterers and construction and building trades n.e.c (a category of worker that undertakes a variety of tasks in the construction and repair of buildings). The change is due to take place before the summer.
The Treasury鈥檚 Budget document said: 鈥淭o help ease immediate labour supply pressures, the government commissioned the MAC to undertake a rapid SOL assessment for the construction and hospitality sectors, ahead of its full review of the SOL concluding later in 2023.
鈥淭he government has accepted the MAC鈥檚 interim recommendations, to initially add five construction occupations to the SOL.鈥�
>>See also: Budget 2023: key measures at-a-glance
>>See also: Missed chances and little to excite in Hunt鈥檚 first Budget
>>See also: Hunt to spend 拢20bn on carbon capture schemes across UK
It added the SOL will be reviewed more regularly 鈥渟o that the legal migration system is quicker and more responsive to the needs of businesses and the economy鈥�.
But steel erectors, scaffolders and road construction operatives have not been recommended to be added to the SOL.
The measure was one of several announced today aimed at increasing the labour supply, along with proposals to help the long term sick and disabled back into work. These include scaled-up musculoskeletal interventions and mental health services and an overhaul of health and disability benefits.
No comments yet