Tier 2 Call for Evidence Recruiting Non-EEA Nationals Family - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tier 2 Call for Evidence Recruiting Non-EEA Nationals

Family Migration

Vanna Aldin Tier 2 Limit 2011-12 and Associated Policies Call for Evidence Mark Franks www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/mac

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Outline

• The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)
• Policy overview
• Data context
• MAC commission
• Request for evidence

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The Migration Advisory Committee

• Non-departmental public body set up in 2007
• Provides evidence-based advice to Government on

immigration issues

• Immigration experts and economists
• Supported by secretariat of economists, researchers

and policy officials

• Has advised in the past on migration from the EU

and through the Points Based System, including limits on Tiers 1 and 2

• Recommends, does not decide

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Overview of Tier 2 policy

• Points Based System
• Tier 2 is for skilled migrants only (NQF 4+)
• Routes include intra-company transfers, Resident

Labour Market Test and occupational shortage list

• Tier 2 annual limit 2011-12: 20,700
• Excludes intra company transfers
• Includes only out-of-country main applicants
• Tier 1 annual limit: 1,000

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Data context

Source: Home Office, 2011 Net long-term migration by citizenship,1991 to 2010

• 200
• 100

100 200 300 400 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Flows (000s) Net EU Net Non-EU Net British Net Non-IPS Net All

Tier 2 entry clearance visas granted to main applicants and dependants, Q4 2007 to Q3 2011

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20 40 60 80 100 120 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Entry clearance visas issued (000s) Ministers of religion/missionary Other permit free employment - skilled Tier 2 - Sportsperson Tier 2 - Ministers of Religion Tier 2 - Intra Company Transfers Tier 2 - General Work Permit Holders Tier 2 Dependant

Number of Entry Clearance visas and in- country leave to remain grants by Tier 2 main applicants and dependants, Q3 2011

7 Main Applicants Dependants Main Applicants Dependants Tier 2 - General 2,550 3,929 2,295 Tier 2 - Intra Company Transfers 749 1,805 1,740 Tier 2 - Ministers of Religion 83 117 151 Tier 2 - Sportsperson 84 16 10 Tier 2 - Intra Company Transfers Short Term 4,383 1,154 Tier 2 - Intra Company Transfers Long Term 3,256 3,177 Work Permit Holders 10 317 3 87 Total 11,115 7,924 5,870 4,283

Notes: In-country grants are grants of leave to remain in the UK, including extensions and those switching visa categories. Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics (2011)

Entry Clearance Visas (out

• f country)

Leave to remain grants (In country) 3,276

MAC Commission Level of limit

Government question

• At what level should the limit
• n Tier 2 (General) be set for

2012, taking account of the economic, labour market, social and public service impacts of the limit; and of the uptake of Tier 2 (General) and intra-company transferee visas in 2011/12?

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MAC call for evidence

• Impact of 2011/12 limit?
• Impact of lower limit in

2012/13?

• Why low uptake of Tier 2

(General)?

• Employer responses to limit

considered and put in place?

Monthly allocations and grant of Tier 2 restricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), April to August 2011

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Initial monthly CoS allocation CoS available for allocation CoS granted April 2011 4,200 4,200 1,019 May 2011 1,500 4,666 781 June 2011 1,500 5,397 845 July 2011 1,500 6,064 859 August 2011 1,500 6,760 819 September 2011 1,500 7,719 673 October 2011 1,500 8,536 818 Total 13,200 5,814

MAC Commission Skill level for Tier 2

Government question

• Which occupations skilled to

NQF 4+ but not NQF6+?

• Implications for shortage
• ccupation list?
• Impact on Tier 2 numbers of

raising skill bar?

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MAC call for evidence

• Right methodology (see MAC

report from Feb 2011)?

• Right occupations excluded

(see above, or call for evidence document)?

• Economic impact of raising

the skill bar?

Identifying skilled occupations

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MAC skill indicator Thresholds for NQF 4+ Thresholds for NQF 6+

SOC skill level 4 4 Earnings (median hourly wage) £13.40 £15.98 Formal Qualifications 41 per cent or more of the workforce within an occupation qualified to NQF4+ 38 per cent or more of the workforce within an occupation qualified to NQF6+

List of occupations skilled to NQF4+ but not to NQF6+

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SOC Code 1152 1183 1185 1219 1222 1231 1235 1239 3121 3123 3131 3211 3213 3218 3221 3319 3411 Architectural technologists and town planning technicians Managers in animal husbandry, forestry and fishing Conference and exhibition managers Property, housing and land managers Recycling and refuse disposal managers Managers and proprietors in other services n.e.c.* List of occupations skilled at NQF4+ but not NQF6+ Occupation Office managers Healthcare practice managers Residential and daycare managers Physiotherapists Protective service associate professionals n.e.c.* Artists Note: * - not elsewhere classified Building inspectors IT operations technicians Nurses Paramedics Medical and dental technicians

List of occupations skilled to NQF4+ but not to NQF6+

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SOC Code 3412 3413 3414 3422 3431 3433 3513 3531 3537 3539 3541 3543 3551 3561 3564 3566 3567 Dancers, choreographers Product, clothing and related designers Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors Public relations officers Occupational hygienists and safety offices (health and safety) List of occupations skilled at NQF4+ but not NQF6+ Occupation Marketing associate professionals Conservation and environmental protection officers Public service associate professionals Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists Statutory examiners Ship and hovercraft officers Estimators, valuers and assessors Financial and accounting technicians Business and related associate professionals Buyers and purchasing officers Authors, writers Actors, entertainers

MAC Commission Intra-company transfers

Government question

• £40k threshold an appropriate

proxy test to ensure that migrants meet GATS definition of senior managers and specialists?

• Allow for regional variations in

pay?

• Does inclusion of non-salary

remuneration undermine use

• f £40k threshold as a proxy

test of skill?

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MAC call for evidence

• Impact of strictly applying

GATS definition?

• £40k reasonable pay

threshold for such jobs?

• Regional variations?

GATS definitions

• Senior Manager: Persons working in a senior position, who

primarily direct the management of the establishment, receiving general supervision or direction principally from the board of directors or stockholders of the business or their equivalent, including having the authority personally to hire and fire.

• Specialist: Persons who possess uncommon knowledge

essential to the establishment's service, research equipment, techniques or management.

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MAC Commission Resident Labour Market Test

Government question

• If RLMT exemption threshold

was to £70k-£100k, what would be the impact on demand for Tier 2 visas, the resident labour force and employers?

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MAC call for evidence

• Impact of lowering threshold
• n employers?
• Impact on labour market?

Emerging key issues

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• Constant change to the system
• Low allocation of CoS linked to the recession and poor

experience of interim limits

• Recruiting non-EEA staff is not a “low cost” option
• Potential regional impacts of salary thresholds
• Bureaucracy and delays resulting from the RLMT
• Increased costs of recruiting especially for small and

medium size enterprises

• Concerns about raising the skills threshold

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Call for evidence document: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/mac The MAC must submit its report to the Government by 31 January 2012 The MAC has issued a consultation asking for evidence to be provided by 21 December 2011 The MAC will assume evidence has not been provided in confidence unless specifically told otherwise

Responding to call for evidence

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Please send responses to: Migration Advisory Committee, 2nd Floor, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. Email: mac@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk For further advice please call: 020 7035 1764

Responding to call for evidence

A new approach

PREMIUM SERVICE

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS?

• Improved customer service for sponsors who wish to apply
• Benefits including:
• A designated senior Account Manager for each sponsor

― The right answer, at the right time, every time

• A simpler application process for international worker

― Reducing time a worker is without their passport ― Access to Public Enquiry Office appointments

• An improved notification and checking service

― Notify us of changes in line with your internal processes ― Updates to your licence made promptly and accurately ― Pre-paid access to automated biometric checking service online

• Attendance at meet and greet stakeholder events

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Premium

• Service for trusted sponsors who wish to apply
• Access to the full benefits package

SME+

• Option for sponsors who already pay the reduced licence fee
• Reduced and targeted package of benefits (Account Management, extra time for

notifications and less onerous migrant application process)

Standard

• No negative impact on current service provision

WHAT WILL THE STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE?

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A SINGLE SYSTEM THAT FOR A FEE OFFERS

Premium services

• verseas, at the PEO

and in country A differentiated approach for trusted sponsors: less bureaucracy and improved turnaround Dedicated account management teams to listen to and help key businesses For those we trust: greater convenience, more support and fewer burdens

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TIMELINE: WHAT, WHEN

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TIMELINE: WHAT, WHEN

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