Call for the Big Brexit MAC report… finally
28 July 2017
The Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) have now been commissioned to produce evidence that will inform a new immigration system post-Brexit.
The long-awaited request contains a commission very much as we at Lewis Silkin expected. The questions being asked reveal a little of the direction the Government is considering; differentiation by skill, sector and regionsare all specified for consideration.
There are two important points for all businesses as a result of this announcement:
- Be prepared to provide data and case studies to the MAC to avoid being left behind in the new immigration system; and
- There is a limited window of opportunity in which to do so. Given the staged approach to reporting, it is far shorter than September 2018.
The MAC will publish mini-reports as they research, in order to provide the information as quickly as possible to aid Brexit negotiations and prepare business for change. The format of the Home Office’s commission ties in well with Lewis Silkin’s sector specific approach to supporting our clients.
We will be providing various avenues and events to give you the opportunity to feed into the report and influence policy over the coming months. We hope to see as many of you as possible at our upcoming events.
For those EEA nationals already in the UK, bear in mind that systems are already in place to help these employees obtain documentation for their existing rights. Many employers are now supporting bulk applications in recognition that this will shortly be a legal requirement and it is helpful to be ahead of the game. It is also proving a very effective tool to ease the concerns of an anxious employee population.
For more information on how we can help you and your business, please contact Andrew Osborne.