BAB Responds to British Government's Call for Evidence on Codes of Practice for Sponsored Skilled Workers
In July 2012, we urged the British Government to make it easier for companies to bring the skilled workers they need into the UK by amending its current Codes of Practice, particularly in relation to the (currently, unrealistically high) minimum salary thresholds and the onerous time and cost implications of compliance. In taking this action, we were responding to a call for evidence from the Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) to review the Codes of Practice for sponsors under Tier 2 of migration legislation (foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker) and for the list of Occupations for which sponsors can currently issue certificates of sponsorship. In our submission, we highlighted the increasing difficulties that our member companies are facing in meeting the requirements of these Codes, and urged the Government to update them to reflect current economic realities, including notably that fact the minimum pay thresholds established in the Codes are far greater than industry averages for certain positions, and to reduce the onerous time and cost implications of compliance.