The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has given a broad welcome to a report by the Migratory Advisory Committee (MAC) on the impact of European Economic Area (EAA) migration in the UK.

BBPAThe report acknowledges that migrant workers play an important part in the UK economy, without having a major effect on the employment of UK workers.

The BBPA is urging the government to support a proposed tourism sector deal, whic it is prepared to back financially.

BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “We have previously called for a review of the Tier system and welcome the proposal from the MAC that the Tier 2 visa bracket be expanded to cover a wider range of occupations.

“However, we have serious concerns about retaining the salary cap of £30,000, as pub chefs, who are very much in short supply within our sector, would in many cases not meet the cap. Nonetheless, the proposal to reduce the qualifications for the Tier 2 visa bracket from RQF6 to RQF3, which would consider the experience offered by pub chefs, rather than just qualifications, is most welcome.

“It is good that the MAC report has recommended that the administrative burden of the Tier system be reviewed for SMEs. No small pub could take on the current sponsorship requirements as they stand, let alone the cost and bureaucracy that currently goes with it.”

 

‘Serious issues’

 

However, she added: “Whilst broadly welcoming the recommendations of this latest MAC report, we still feel that the MAC does not recognise the important role of the hospitality industry in the UK and the serious issues that migration caps will bring to the sector.

“On average, as many as 24% of workers in pubs are from overseas — rising to as much as 80% in some urban areas — meaning that any cap which does not recognise the deficit in talent will cause hardship for pubs and could ultimately lead to more closures.

“This is why we continue to call for the extension of the Youth Mobility Scheme, which allows young people up to the age of 30 from a prescribed list of countries to work in the UK for up to two years. Considering some 42% of employees in pubs are under the age of 25, extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the whole of the EU is most welcome, as has already been proposed in the Chequers Agreement.”