Plans to impose a skills levy on non-EU workers have been heavily criticised by contractors…
Home Office plans to crackdown on the number of non-EU workers employed in the UK have been lambasted by the construction industry.
The government is looking to impose an immigration skills levy, which will see firms pay £1,000 for each skilled worker employed from outside the EU. This would be applied to those earning over £30,000.
According to a new report from the government’s Migration Advisory Committee, the levy could raise some £250m a year. This money could be used to fund the development of skilled workers.
However, the news will undoubtedly be unwelcome by the sector, which has already been hit with charges through the apprenticeship levy. Additionally, at a time when the sector is struggling to meet skills demands it seems counterproductive to introduce more red tape.
Critics of the levy warned it could in fact slow down the delivery of planned major infrastructure projects, as skilled workers are already in short supply. The Civil Engineering Contractors Association said it was concerned it would damage the sector.
Chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “The industry is already facing the apprenticeship levy on top of the existing contribution to the Construction Industry Training Board.
“Now we face the prospect of a further burden where we meet unfilled skills gaps through overseas recruitment.
“Our members are keen to deliver, upgrade and maintain the UK’s vital infrastructure networks using home-grown talent where possible.
“While our members share the Government’s ambition of creating a more highly skilled UK workforce, is it self- defeating to hinder their ability to import skilled workers from abroad when absolutely necessary.
“This could act as a drag on the ability of companies to hire the best people for the job.”