Stricter oversight and training initiatives to address skill shortages and net migration

The Government has announced new measures that are aimed to address the increase in net migration, opting to depend on Britain’s domestic workforce to fill recruitment vacancies instead of utilising overseas talent. During the Labour Party Conference, Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of engaging in a serious discussion about immigration, particularly in light of recent violent protests against asylum seekers and the broader implications for the nation’s immigration policy.

Emphasis on Domestic Training

Cooper pointed out that net migration has surged, largely due to the increasing recruitment of foreign workers stemming from insufficient domestic training. She argued that a dedicated effort to enhance the skills of the existing workforce could effectively reduce migration levels. Key sectors identified as needing attention include IT, engineering, and life sciences. The Migration Advisory Committee is expected to play an expanded role in addressing skill shortages in the labour market, thereby decreasing reliance on migrant labour and fostering better employment opportunities for domestic workers.

While the details on how this training will be implemented remain vague, and limited investment and public funding plans were disclosed at the conference, the government appears committed to addressing immigration challenges by promoting domestic alternatives.

Stricter Oversight for Sponsorship Licence Holders

Another significant aspect of the new measures is the government's commitment to intensify enforcement of immigration laws among employers, thereby limiting their capacity to hire foreign workers. It has been announced that compliance audits by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will become more frequent, potentially leading to the suspension or revocation of sponsor licences. These audits will assess employer’s adherence to their sponsorship responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the legitimacy of vacancies being filled and the maintenance of accurate records for skilled employees.

Following substantial increases in civil penalties for illegal employment introduced earlier this year, where fines can now be imposed on employers up to an amount of £60,000 per illegal worker, it is evident that sponsor licence holders are under heightened scrutiny as part of the government's strategy to manage net migration.

The suspension of a sponsor licence can severely impact an organisation, preventing it from sponsoring new migrant workers, while revocation will usually restrict the visas of all sponsored employees to a maximum of 60 days. Notably, there is no right of appeal against such decisions.

Given these developments, it is vital for businesses to routinely evaluate their compliance with the sponsorship duties and illegal working regulations to avoid harsh sanctions from the Home Office. Our team possesses extensive expertise in all facets of sponsorship and offers comprehensive training for your staff, coupled with mock audits, to ensure compliance with Home Office guidelines.

We have successfully contested the revocation of Sponsor Licences, and through our training and audit services, we can help mitigate these risks, saving both time and financial resources in the process.

For assistance with any of the issues discussed, please contact Mandeep Khroud, Partner and Head of the Immigration Team.