Page 16 - BOSS Today Issue 49

BOSS Today #49

LABOUR

PAINS

The rights of EU nationals to live and work in the UK will end on 31 December 2020.
What are the options available to employers?

any businesses in the UK that low skilled (and often low paid) labour n Having a PhD degree in engineering,
Memploy migrant workers from the from EU countries. Under the proposed maths, science or technology (20
EU will need to adapt to the changes new rules, a worker coming from outside points)
brought about by the end to free the UK will need to score at least 70
movement of labour from the EU and qualification points, with 50 of these Employers that are likely to want to
understand what this will mean for the being earned from three mandatory hire workers who meet the criteria,
labour market in the UK. categories: but who don’t already have a Sponsor
EU nationals who already live in the UK Licence from the Home Office, should
and who meet the qualifying criteria can n They must be able to speak English consider applying for a Licence now, as it
still apply for Settled Status and have (10 points) is expected that there will be a significant
until the 30th June 2021 to do so. Figures n They must have a job offer from an upturn in Licence applications in the early
published by the Home Office show that approved sponsor (employers will need part of next year.
by the end of June 2020, 3.4 million to apply to the Home Office to become Employers that currently rely on
EU nationals had been granted Settled Licensed Sponsors) (20 points) unskilled migrant workers, especially
Status and were therefore entitled to n They must be coming to a job at the those employees who are transient,
remain in the UK. appropriate skill level (A Level or above rather than permanently based here,
However, for employers who want to the required qualification) (20 points) should invest in staff retention,
take on workers from the EU (or from productivity, technology and automation,
anywhere else) in the future, there The remaining 20 points can be gained because the government has announced
will be new rules to navigate. From 1st from a number of different categories: that it will not introduce a low skilled or
January 2021, the UK will be operating a n A salary of between £23,040 and temporary work route. This means that,
qualification points-based immigration £25,599 (10 points) except for some limited relief for the
system. The government has indicated n A salary of more than £25,600 agricultural industry under the seasonal
that the aim of the new system is to (20 points) workers pilot, employers need to plan
attract skilled workers from around n A job offer in a shortage occupation now for how they will fill any unskilled
the world, whilst at the same time (20 points) roles in their businesses.
encourage employers to stop relying on n Having a PhD degree (10 points)

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