Published on: 22 March 2023
Following Brexit, an increasing number of UK businesses have cited skills shortages in the domestic labour market and challenges when they try to secure workers from abroad through the current migration and visa system.
British Marine now has an opportunity to influence this situation by collating evidence from members and submitting a collective response to the Migration Advisory Committee’s Call for Evidence to aid its wide ranging review of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
The Shortage Occupation List is made up of those occupations which the Government agrees are sensible to fill its shortages with migrant workers through a Skilled Worker visa route.
By having an occupation listed on the SOL, employers wanting to recruit for an occupation can benefit from more favourable migration arrangements – most notably a reduced salary threshold and slightly lower visa fees for applicants – enabling employers to access a wider pool of suitable workers.
Last week the Government agreed to add five additional occupations to the SOL, including carpenters and joiners at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 or above.
The Government is now asking the MAC to consider:
- Which occupations, if any, based on evidence provided by stakeholders, should be added to the SOL, at RQF3 or above and, in exceptional circumstances, at RQF1-2;
- Which occupations on the current SOL should continue to be included and which should be removed;
- Whether the salary requirement for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) should, in future, be whichever is higher of the going rate (rather than 20 percent less than the going rate) or at the minimum threshold (expected to be £26,200), subject to an absolute minimum of £10.10 per hour.
If your business would like to see changes to the SOL and would like to inform the current review please contact publicaffairs@britishmarine.co.uk.
Alternatively, please call Joanna Richardson, senior public affairs executive on 07860 848834 – Joanna is ready to advise you on the type of evidence required and provide your business with a template to complete and return to us by the end of April 2023.