AS an immigration specialist who helps businesses recruit skilled staff from abroad, I welcome the proposals for lower barriers for immigration to Scotland compared with the rest of the UK (“Revealed: The plan to keep EU workers in Scotland”, The Herald, June 20).
The immigration needs of Scotland differ from the rest of the UK. This is recognised to some extent as there is an expanded list of “shortage occupations” for visa applications in Scotland.
It is vitally important that steps are taken to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK. The decision to the leave the EU has created much uncertainty for workers and employers. We have seen this with a substantial increase in the number of applications by concerned EU nationals.
Any amendments to the Tier 2 visa scheme should include reviewing the cost to business of sponsoring visa applications, a measure of last resort when suitable skills cannot be found in the UK market. The recently introduced Immigration Skills Charge, of up to £1,000 per year per sponsored worker, is a barrier to businesses looking to recruit key skills to assist with growth.
The Tier 2 system adversely affects small and medium-sized enterprises and recent figures show that 99 per cent of Scottish businesses fall within this definition compared to 60 per cent in England and Wales.
The renewal of the post-study work visa scheme would also be welcome. The UK Government position that a separate visa scheme or system is not workable is based on historical issues relating to the old Fresh Talent scheme.
The UK Government argues that a high number of Fresh Talent visa holders, who were only authorised to work in Scotland, moved to England for work. There was no restriction on the visa that prevented them from doing this.
The “hostile environment” created by the recent Immigration Acts means that a separate visa system for Scotland is feasible. Employers are obliged to check right-to-work documents and landlords in England and Wales can only rent property to those with valid leave. Endorsing a visa as only being valid for work in Scotland would close any “back door” for migrants to move to England.
Stuart McWilliams,
Senior Associate, Morton Fraser LLP Immigration Team,
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