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Immigration system must remain flexible, says REC
In response to the House of Lords’ Economic Affairs Committee report, “The Economic Impact of Immigration”, Anne Fairweather, the REC's Head of Public Policy, comments: "It is too simplistic to talk broadly about the impact of immigration; instead we need to look at specifics.
“Recruiters across the country experience difficulties in recruiting for certain positions in sectors such as medical, social care, construction and engineering. The immigration system needs to be flexible enough to respond to these demands. A cap on immigration which is not related to a need for workers could be harmful to both the economy and front line delivery of services. The REC will be making submissions to the Migration Advisory Committee on these matters.”
Last month’s REC/KPMG Report on Jobs, in association with NTC Economics shows significant demands for staff in the medical, nursing and social care, construction and engineering sectors.
Regarding filling these skills gaps, Fairweather continues: “Targets such as the building of three million new homes or providing social care to our ageing population are not going to be met without a skilled workforce. Whilst immigration may fill short-term needs, what is needed in the long-term is an integrated approach to skills.
“We need to train tomorrow’s workforce today so that these positions can be filled. The bottom line is that it is always easier to recruit workers who are local to employers. However, if those workers are not available, recruiters will have to look further afield.”
On the matter of enforcement of minimum standards, Fairweather concludes, “It is essential that minimum standards, such as the minimum wage are accessed by all. It’s not just the workers who lose out when these rules are flouted. Legitimate businesses that abide by the rules find themselves undercut by a small number of employers who persist on breaking the rules. The REC calls on the Government to continue to target its resources on enforcement.”
The REC gave evidence to the House of Lords Committee on the report. In its evidence the REC highlighted the need for recruiters to look beyond the EU to fill some vacancies.
