The MAC have been investigating skills shortages in relation to the issuing of Visas. They have proposed the tightening of rules surrounding the issuing of Visas for ICT workers. this should be welcomed.
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...hing_FINAL.pdf
We make a number of recommendations to further strengthen the contribution of
the ICT route to UK plc. I set these out in three tranches: all ICT migrants;
conventional ICT channel; third-party contracting channel.
Concerning all ICTs
all ICTs should be required to pay both the Immigration Health
Surcharge and the Immigration Skills Charge (except Skills Transfer
and Graduate trainees), ensuring consistency with migrant workers
under Tier 2 (General).
the required prior experience with the employer should be raised from
one year to two years. This will help ensure that the transferee is
steeped in the culture of the company. We also recommend that
sponsors be required to enter a more detailed description of the role
on the Certificate of Sponsorship application form to ensure that the
role is sufficiently specialist.
the Home Office and HMRC will wish to jointly examine whether or not
the present system of allowances and initial non-payment of national
insurance contributions confers a playing field tilted against British
workers.
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...hing_FINAL.pdf
We make a number of recommendations to further strengthen the contribution of
the ICT route to UK plc. I set these out in three tranches: all ICT migrants;
conventional ICT channel; third-party contracting channel.
Concerning all ICTs
all ICTs should be required to pay both the Immigration Health
Surcharge and the Immigration Skills Charge (except Skills Transfer
and Graduate trainees), ensuring consistency with migrant workers
under Tier 2 (General).
the required prior experience with the employer should be raised from
one year to two years. This will help ensure that the transferee is
steeped in the culture of the company. We also recommend that
sponsors be required to enter a more detailed description of the role
on the Certificate of Sponsorship application form to ensure that the
role is sufficiently specialist.
the Home Office and HMRC will wish to jointly examine whether or not
the present system of allowances and initial non-payment of national
insurance contributions confers a playing field tilted against British
workers.
Comment