Government set to introduce a £1,000 Non-EU Worker Levy

The government are set to introduce a new non-EU worker levy to try and reduce the number of skilled immigrants coming into the country.

The proposal, which is part of the long-term aim to reduce the number of immigrants coming into the UK, could see the flow of skilled non-EU migrants cut by 20% a year with nurses and teachers expected to be hit the hardest. The clampdown from the government will also include a raising of the minimum salary for skilled workers, adding to the difficulty of recruiting outside of the EU.

The £1,000 levy would be required to be paid by all of those recruiting from outside of the EU with the money reinvested in training and creating job opportunities for UK residents. Such a levy would also aid the government in their aim to control the number of immigrants coming to the UK, with the current government want to reduce the number from over 300,000 to 100,000 by 2020.

Business lobby group the Institute of Directors (IoD) has condemned the controversial proposal from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC),

Simon Walker, IoD director general Simon Walker said: “The MAC’s proposals will hurt thousands of individual firms, which will find it harder to bring in the skilled workers in areas like IT, where we have shortages,”

“Coming on top of the new apprenticeship levy, and the national living wage, the new tax on recruiting from overseas will pile further costs on businesses.

“These plans would only make a ‘modest’ contribution to cutting overall net migration. This will send a message around the world that the UK is no longer open to international talent.”

Skilled Migration Barristers: Contact Our Team Today

If you require legal advice regarding working and living in the UK or if you would like advice from expert lawyers about recruiting from outside of the EU, contact our team today using our online contact form.