The Home Secretary has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to examine the role EU nationals play in the UK economy and society.
As part of the major study, the government’s independent advisers on migration will also look at how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.
The commission represents an extremely important piece of work, with free movement ending when we exit the EU. Plans for the UK’s future immigration system are being developed which will enable the government to control the flow of migration from Europe.
Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: “Workers from across Europe strengthen our businesses and help our public services run more smoothly – any new migration system should protect these benefits while restoring public confidence. Asking the Migration Advisory Committee to set out the facts is a sensible first step.
“The immediate priority is securing agreement as soon as possible with the EU27 on UK and EU citizens’ reciprocal rights, which will help the negotiations progress quickly to future trading arrangements.
“The Committee’s review will be vital to address longer-term questions. Given the importance of mobile skills and labour for the UK economy, firms will want the review to move at pace and include the views of all sectors. Businesses urgently need to know what a new system will look like – during transition and afterwards.”
The Home Office will ask the MAC to focus the study on patterns of EU and EEA (European Economic Area) migration, considering regional distribution; skill levels; industry sectors and the role of the self-employed, part-time, agency, temporary and seasonal workers.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "Leaving the European Union gives us the opportunity to take control of immigration from the EU. We will ensure we continue to attract those who benefit us economically, socially and culturally.
"But, at the same time, our new immigration system will give us control of the volume of people coming here – giving the public confidence we are applying our own rules on who we want to come to the UK and helping us to bring down net migration to sustainable levels.
"The study I am asking the Migration Advisory Committee to complete is a major step in ensuring we create a system that works in the best interests of the country."
Other industry bodies have previously warned about the negative impact a curb on immigration and free movement would have on construction.
RICS released a survey highlighting a serious shortfall in skilled building workers if controls were tightened. And in response to the Queen's Speech, the FMB said the Government’s Immigration Bill must ensure that British business has access to sufficient levels of EU workers or major construction projects will grind to a halt
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "EU tradespeople have come to play a crucial part in plugging the industry’s chronic skills shortages and if the ability to employ non-UK workers is curtailed, the Government’s housing and infrastructure plans will be no more than a pipe dream.
“Already, we’re starting to see a dramatic drop off in immigration from the kinds of countries that have typically supplied the construction sector with skilled talent. A lack of certainty over what rights EU citizens will have in the country post-Brexit will undoubtedly be a factor behind this decline.
"The construction industry is also ready to significantly upscale the training and recruitment of UK construction workers so we welcome the recommitment to a proper industrial strategy and high skilled learning. In the longer term, being able to train more of our own workforce is without question part of the solution to our enduring skills deficit. Nevertheless, the Government must be pragmatic and introduce an immigration flexible system that allows skilled EU nationals to work in the UK with relative ease."
The Home Secretary also underlined there will be an implementation period when the UK leaves the EU to ensure there is no ‘cliff edge’ for employers or EU nationals in the UK.
In addition to the MAC commission, there will be an extensive cross-government programme of engagement over the coming months with stakeholders from a number of sectors, including business, industry, trades unions and educational institutions.
The MAC, which comprises of a group of internationally recognised experts in their field, will assess and build on the internal cross-government work that has already been completed.
